Michelle Obama Oprah Interview: "My Happiness Is Tied To How I Feel About Myself"

This month's O Magazine features Michelle Obama on its first ever shared cover. Oprah sat down with Michelle in her new home to discuss to her brand new life. America's newest First Lady had some sage advice that we can't help but agree with.

On health:

When we first started running, my big concern was making sure we ate well on the road. So we started looking at our diet, trying to eliminate junk, getting seasonal fruits and vegetables that were grown locally. We walked the kids through reading labels. We talked about why one juice might be better than another.

On exercise:

Well, I just started thinking, if I had to get up to go to work, I'd get up and go to work. If I had to get up to take care of my kids, I'd get up to do that. But when it comes to yourself, then it's suddenly, "Oh, I can't get up at 4:30." So I had to change that. If I don't exercise, I won't feel good. I'll get depressed. Of course, it's easier to do it here, because I have much more support now. But I always think about women who don't have support. That's why work-family balance isn't just a policy conversation; it's about changing the expectations of who we have to be as women and parents.

Michelle Obama also prescribes to our vision that a good life is a giving life:

I know that all I can do is be the best me that I can. And live life with some gusto. Giving back is a big part of that.

She's been in the White House for less than 3 months, but she's already lent her spotlight to several different causes and stayed true to Barack's and her Service Initiative. On February 10th, she spent the afternoon with children and teens at a local community center, while on March 5 she dedicated her lunch hour to serving those less fortunate at a soup kitchen.

And lastly, Michelle summed up exactly what it means for her to be happy:

My happiness is tied to how I feel about myself.

Truer words have never been spoken.

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Comments

[Colloquielle]

This is almost a triage kind of thing - one of the first things you learn in a First Aid training course is that, when you arrive on the scene of an accident, the most important person there is YOU. You have to first make sure you take steps to ensure you *remain* safe and in a fit state to help others around you. So the fact that Michelle is making sure she's in a fit, healthy state and not becoming complacent about herself and her health means that she's taking her roles - as a Mum and a wife and as First Lady - as seriously as she can and making sure she remains completely able to fulfil those roles to the very best of her ability. I think it's commendable, and a very healthy message to send. Notice that when she talks about herself it's not in terms of wanting a night on the sofa with a romcom and a block of Cadbury's, it's about getting up at 4:30am to push herself through some exercise so she is the fittest, healthiest version of herself she can be, and therefore better able to take on those challenging roles. If more of us did that the world would be a healthier place!

[Shirah Penn]

when you do good things for others you feel good about yourself. When you feel good about yourself you do good things for others. it's like a circle. There is a Jewish song that says Mitzvah Goreret Mitvah Aveirah Goreret Aveirah.....A good deed makes for another good deed and wickedness creates more wickedness. Loosely translated by Gramma Shirah Hillel says Love your neighbor as you love yourself. so what comes first the chicken or the egg.

[Shashi0224]

Michelle Obama is a brilliant, inspiring First Lady! She is such a wonderful reflection of our country! I am so very proud!
What a wonderful First Lady. What an amazing family! What a great President!
To the Obama family......Thank you for restoring intelligence and pride to our country! Thank you!!

[Hopemonger38]

Is this really preferable to margueritas and cigarettes?
oh, h*ll, yes, it is!

What a breath of fresh air.

Hope lives!

[Joseph Upton]

And here I thought that, as a "good liberal", all she cared about was "the little people".

[formerprosecutor]

I am so grateful for Michelle Obama; we finally have a highly visible educated strong woman, that no one "shades" for young women to role model . I know she didn't really sign up for that; but just that one last sentence will mean so much to so many.
A mantra many need to memorize; it's not new; but it should be carved in stone

[lillibelle]

How wonderful to hear that MO's well being is tied to how she feels about herself. I wish I could be more like that. Too often, women go up and down with the moods of their children and/or spouse. A bit of detachment is so vital to our well being but so difficult to ascertain.

[Scar1]

And you tied yourself to the best God has to offer. So feel good Michelle-feel damn good!

[formerprosecutor]

You mean Obama tied himself to the the best God had to offer; didn't you?

[coultersnemesis]

(:

[formerprosecutor]

Did you not understand anything she said? Her value is all within herself.

[write2bheard]

Jesus said it best."..And the second (greatest commandment) is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." It may be a quite difficult to love and value your neighbor if you don't love an value yourself.... Kudos to Michelle for her service to others that enables her to feel good enough about herself to value and take good care of herself.

[Scar1]

Think like what? They do have have to be told by the Masters of the world. They can think and reason without oppression-go Michelle and don't look back. There is too much ignorance behind you. So, reach for it all.

[Scar1]

No she is humble and better than some of you pin heads.

[Scar1]

You are somebody and don't forget it. You are beautifully blessed and whatever you do-the self you are is more than expected to God. He evidently saw something great in you.

[Sparhawk]

Pretty self-centered view - and not because it's Michelle Obama. Too many people nowadays think like this.

[papapj]

How can it be self-centered? If anything, it's a fact of life.

Listen..you obviously need a life lesson.

How can you be the best you can to those you love without loving yourself and feeling happy about yourself?

I'd suggest not enough people feel like this. The principle reason people do wrong/bad things is because they don't feel good about themselves.

Mme. First Lady is bang on point.

Maybe you're too young to appreciate this.

Hopefully, you'll learn.

[formerprosecutor]

you need counseling; other people don't make us; we are not dependant upon others for our validation. all the answer lie inside of us.

[RButler]

If the answer is inside of you, then you must be full of yourself.

[RButler]

I wonder if Mother Theresa's happiness was tied to how she felt about herself.

Some of my happiest and most satisfying times have been when I was contributing to others and my attention was not on myself. It's kind of a paradox.

[blastit]

If you don't feel good about yourself how can you feel good about anybody or anything else you have to love yourself, that doesn't imply being conceited or obnoxious or self-centered

[sweetwhine]

You've got a lot of growing up to do.

[jozinha]

The previous poster writes that we barely knew there was a first lady for the last eight years.

How true. Laura Bush was the most non-existent FLOTUS that I can remember.

And now, we've got energetic Michelle. It takes a few moment for me to warm up to some of her wardrobe choices, but I eventually do. Other than that, she's really got a great spirit and a very important role supporting a man who needs the best support he can get. I know Michelle knows how to give that. So for that reason I'm very glad she's our First Lady.

[RCSwolf]

To all the nay sayers, gloom and doom trolls on this site. Please seek professional help!

[RButler]

If the naysayers are a problem for you, maybe you should seek professional help. You want everyone else to change what they're doing so you can be OK. Unfortunately, you can't see that for yourself.

[Sarita]

For the past eight years, you wouldn't even know that we had a first lady. This is so re-freshing - someone talking about exercise and eating right. With overweight issues and obesity sky-rocketing in our country, this is a good message.

Has anyone ever looked at the pictures from the great depression - the one thing that struck me is that they are all thin people. They didn't have money to waste on processed foods (actually there wren't that many - but we did have coca-cola), later they had victory gardens once the war started. My folks did their own canning, etc. Maybe with the leadership of the Obamas, we can get back to taking responsibility for our food and get into better shape. Now that would cut medical costs!