First Lady Michelle Obama Reveals All! (Pt 2) Life-Changing Lessons on Fear, Faith, Purpose & Hope!

Where does my confidence come from? It comes from having two parents who loved me deeply and fully believed in me. She my dad They're the part of America that I believe it, you know Coming up in this incredible part two episode with first lady Michelle Obama. I got to see all of America Yes in an intimate way and And rarely was I disappointed. I mean bad things happen But people are good. Yes Leadership is about reminding us of that good because it's so easy to tap into our fear. Yes In her new book the look Michelle reveals for the first time ever how she and her team Transform the scrutiny of her public image into a celebration of Self-expression inclusion and impact the look will ignite your confidence and inspire you to embrace your own authenticity beauty style and to trust your own voice her in my stepdad Michelle they were matching out this every single day. They're inseparable. They always voted the same Yeah, she is very hard-core Republican and when it came out that she voted for Barack You would have thought it was like and I was I just remember being so proud of her not because of how she voted But because she went with how she felt how she felt That's the God gift. How do you know God exists? Do you ever doubt God exists? Do you think we all have a calling wouldn't that be just like God to put the answer To all that we that ails us in the God would do that Jamie you're killing me you are going so deep. I have never had this in-depth conversation I've never heard you share things like this before That time was a blessing You know it really was and That brought us closer, you know You're killing me Yeah, I do Yeah If I'm at a loss for any feeling She comes through Swine people are good You know Welcome to the Jamie Kern Lee Michelle. I am so happy you're here I'm so excited for this conversation. We're having together today with first lady Michelle Obama The intention of the show is to be a force for good and a force for love I have guests on that might vote differently love differently or pray differently from you and me Because I believe to heal humanity through love We must first understand the humans who make it up. I am so happy you are here and no matter how you vote or you love or you pray You belong here And whether today you're listening for yourself or because someone shared this episode with you Welcome to the JKL show podcast family. I'd be so grateful if you could take two seconds and hit the subscribe button on the app You're listening or watching on that way. You'll be the very first to get every inspirational episode Plus you can get weekly inspiration right into your inbox from me for free Just join my newsletter at jameykernleema.com Thank you so much for sharing this with every single person who you know Who might need some inspiration today or perhaps a boost in hope and self belief because we are all in this life together Welcome to jameykernleema show Oprah how have you defied the odds? Her shift is unlike any I've ever done a revelation when you listen it feels like a hug But your brain and your spirit and your heart is like wow the Linda French gates When I look into Jamie's eyes. I feel like I am on some other cosmic level with her I could see the light around her. She's infused with light Imagine overcoming self-doubt learning to believe in yourself and trust yourself and know you are enough Welcome to the jameykernleema show jameykernleema is her name everybody needs jameykernleema in their life jameykernleema Jamie you're so inspiring Jamie Kern Leema The best thing about being first lady is I got to see all of America. Yes in an intimate way. Yeah And rarely was I disappointed I mean and I do mean rarely I mean bad things happen But people are good. Yes And just sometimes we just need to be leadership is about reminding us of that good. Yes Because it's so easy to tap into our fear. Yes You know it is it is the easiest thing because that emotion is so raw and real and it's protecting us I get it right But the America that I know the country that I love yes People get confused and they're struggling Trying to hold on and when folks are struggling. It's hard to find that compassion. It really is Yeah, that's why we got to take care of each other You know to give people the space and you want to know about intuition Where you find it is when you have room Mm-hmm, you know, and that's what a lot of people they don't have room. Yes, life is too hard You know, I mean people just want to get up and go to a job and get a check And if you don't have room in your life for quiet and peace You can't find your intuition You can't find your empathy, you know You can't find it. It's there, but you don't have a moment Um And I don't know that sometimes we understand How little time we're giving people You know how the average American is just up against it all the time So how do you find that part of yourself When you're operating out of breath all the time And that's the part of humanity that I try to remember When I when I have that fear yes, you know, it's like We're here for reason. We're struggling Um, but we can't turn against each other in that struggle, you know I felt literally my bones when you just said people are good Yeah, I think so many people need that reminder Yeah, people are good people are good and I think I think when we hear that we know that's true And I think that will hopefully ignite hope and a lot of people just hearing those words and talking about Good people. I want to ask about your mom Yeah, your mom. Oh, and what are you trying to do to even hear Jamie? Oh my goodness. Let me wipe my nose My mommy another good person another good person Miriam Robinson um, I have friends who talk about How their relationship with their mom once their mom has passed it can shift. Oh yeah can become closer Has your relationship changed at all? Woods you lost your mom with my mom with your mom. Ah that's such a good question I've definitely become closer to her for sure if that's even possible um I understand her Increasingly more. I think all mothers and daughters parents the older you get the more you like ah Yeah, I get it. This is where you were this is what you were Working on struggling with um overcoming this I understand Some of the parts of her that maybe I didn't um But I was so fortunate because You know, we didn't know when my mom would was gonna pass but we knew she had congestive heart failure. She was just She was just getting weaker right um and You know our her doctors know is like you know, this isn't she's not gonna be able to recover from every little Yeah, every little health issue that she would face um, so I think we were all getting ourselves ready and um I had who Three months with she was stuck with me because we were in Hawaii and she got sick at Christmas because she overdid it And it made her sick and she had to go into the hospital and she had another So she was kind of stuck with me and we were stuck with each other And I was caring for her in a way that I hadn't because after she left the white house she moved back to Chicago We were still in DC. She had her own apartment. My mother was very independent Always it's like never asked us for anything. So This was the first time I really could care for her And we had months together getting on each other's nerves are you in laughing sitting quietly Going to hospital visits with her um That time was a blessing you know it really was And that brought us closer, you know um It's all the good That I got with her So yeah, I feel I feel her with me every every day Yeah, yeah, you're killing me Yeah, I do Yeah Do you feel her with you right now? Oh, she's always here especially in these moments, you know, if I'm at a loss for any feeling she comes through It's why I know people are good You know Because she's just a regular She's just a regular lady, you know, she's like every American mom Just trying to care for her kids and I know she's out there other people are out there So She my dad They're the part of America that I believe in You know Do you Do you know they're proud of you? Yeah That was the beauty of the Robinson's We talked often expressed clearly openly You know That we knew and that's part of my foundation You know where does my confidence come from it comes from Having two parents who loved me deeply And fully believed in me You know who cares about anything else newspapers commentators political opponents You know when you have that foundation You're able to go out into the world and take it You know and grow from it It's what parenting is so important When you think about Sasha and Malia 50 years from now if someone says to them who's your mom What do you hope they say oh I Hope they say that their mom is one of the their favorite people on the planet um Who talks at them how to be independent and courageous and To understand their own power And to appreciate themselves as individuals and not compare it to each other or anyone else um And I hope they say that they stand strong because of her Their mom me yeah I want to say something really quick that I wasn't even sure if I was going to share but I'm going to share it um I've done for a cosmetics. I've done a million of events Now I've spoken at tons of events. I've been I've met Thousands and thousands of people and I know what an events like we have a step in repeat. Yeah Where lots of people come up. I just want to share something Michelle um About why I'm so honored to do this interview and I'm gonna cry I'm just trying to cry. I don't want to cry. I make it off But years you just want me to cry mine I just want to share something so years this is years and years ago and I um My mom Went through 10 years of Scleroderma. We're in and out of the ER and I see you and I was taking care of her for a long time And I was having one of the most difficult days because she was in the in the ICU across the country And I was in LA and you had a Book tour for becoming that you were there with Oprah and My ticket had like a meet and greet option and and I was on the phone with her that morning It's just so excited. I was gonna to see you And which by the way her and my her and my stepdad Michelle they were matching outfits every single day. They're inseparable They always voted the same. Yeah, she is very hard-core Republican And when it came out that she voted for Barack you would have thought It was like and I was I just remember being so proud of her not cuz of how she voted But because she went with how she felt how she felt So that day I was having like the worst in my eyes are puffy for crying. I was in this long line There's like a hundred people waiting to meet you And I was watching peak secret service had everyone put all their stuff away They go up and they like got one second one second right and so I was watching You know women and girls coming out crying squealing like so excited saying I tried to give her my business car With all these things right and and I'm watching all this and I was just like I have no idea what I'm gonna say And I so I pray because I believe like that we I believe the quickest way to get what we need is to give it I wasn't even thinking that though. I just was like at that moment. Yeah, I decided I'm gonna pray that somehow Cuz I've been at these meet and greets. I know how tiring book tours can be all the things I am gonna pray that something I say is a blessing to Michelle. That was it. That was my prayer I don't know what I was gonna say I walked up to you And I opened my mouth to talk and I couldn't I didn't even get a word out and you looked at me and you said you have such a light Coming from you and I just like stared at you for a minute And I think I don't know what I said after that. We got a picture and I left and I just realized that day a it was something that Met a lot and I really needed and it was such a gift and And be I've had the blessing as I know you have also meeting so many people behind the scenes and to know that you are so congruent and so aligned and the person who you say you are is who you are is why I was so excited for this interview because Because you're that person and so I just wanted to say that really quickly Because long before I'm hosting a podcast or doing anything else. I'm just in a line and You know, we think about seeing because of you when I hear That story. I mean that's what I'm thinking every time I'm interacting with people We need to pause for a super brief break and while we do take a moment to share this episode with every single person that you know Who this could inspire because this conversation can truly be the words and inspiration They need to hear today to keep going to remember that they matter and to feel less alone and more enough more connected and more worthy In life you don't swords the level of your hopes and dreams You stay stuck at the level of your self-worth when you build your self-worth you change your entire life And that's exactly why I wrote my new book worthy How to believe you are enough and transform your life for you If you have some self-doubt to destroy and a destiny to fulfill worthy is for you And worthy you'll learn proven tools and it's simple steps that bring life-changing results Like how to get unstuck from the things holding you back build unshakable self-love unlearn the lies that lead to self-doubt and embrace the truths that wake up worthiness overcome limiting beliefs and imposter syndrome Achieve your hopes and dreams by believing you are worthy of them and so much more Are you ready to unleash your greatness and step into the person you are born to be Imagine a life with zero self-doubt and unshakable self-worth Get your copy of worthy plus some amazing thank you bonus gifts for you at worthybook.com or the link in the show notes below Imagine what you do if you fully believed in you It's time to find out with worthy Who you spend time around is so important as energy is contagious and so is self-belief And I'd love to hang out with you even more especially if you could use an extra dose of inspiration Which is exactly why I've created my free weekly newsletter That's also a love letter to you Delivered straight to your inbox each and every Tuesday morning from me If you haven't signed up to make sure that you get it each week Just go to jameykernlima.com to make sure you're on the list And you'll get your one-on-one with jamey weekly newsletter and get ready to believe in you If you're tired of hearing the bad news every single day and need some inspiration Some tips tools joy and love hitting your inbox. I'm your girl Subscribe at jameykernlima.com or in the link in the show notes Do you struggle with negative self-talk Living with a constant mental narrative that you're not good enough is exhausting I know because I spent most of my life in that habit The words you say to yourself about yourself are so powerful and when you learn to take control over your self-talk Life-changing and I wanted to give you a free resource that I created for you if this is something that could benefit your life It's called five ways to overcome negative self-talk and build self-love And it's a free how-to guide to overcome that negative self-talk to build confidence and develop Unshakeable self-love so that you can dream big and keep going in the pursuit of your goals Don't let self-sabotaging thoughts hinder your progress any longer It's time to rewrite the script of your life when filled with self-love resilience and unwavering belief If you're ready to take charge of your narrative build unwavering confidence and empower yourself to Persevere on the path to your dreams You can grab your free guide to stop overthinking and learn to trust yourself at jameykernlima.com slash resources or click the link in the show notes below and now more of this incredible conversation together It's like that's why the clothes are important yeah, but they're not they're just the thing That gets me there yeah because in my mind I'm always thinking What is this interaction gonna mean yeah, and it's so it is about the interaction right there yeah Because that's that's the small power. It's like That's those connections are better than any big speech That you can give because it's real and it's right there yeah But if you're not present for it if you're if you're if your dress is too tight Or the bow is too big or the him if you're not comfortable your late because you spent two hours trying to get something like that Or any of it you know um yes That's one of the things it's like that's that's what for me close allow me to show up But to still have the freedom to be me in that moment so that I can forget about what I look like Like when I'm in a photo line. It's like I don't want to have to worry about it's like yeah, but that's That's the god gift. Yeah, it's like it's not all this This is just this is nice. It starts the conversation. We can always go girl I love those shoes. All right in that the beginning of the connection. Yes, but that's just the beginning of it And I think that that's one of the many things I want people to take away from the look. Yeah That in the end it is it is us to us. It's one to one. Yeah, and that power is real. I've seen it. I felt it I've experienced it both ways because the light goes both ways. Yeah, you know, yes And I get as much as I give yes, and that's what I think it's like what am I what do I want to get let me think of what I want You know, it's like I would want somebody to be present for me if I stood in a long line. Yes, like a ride I was carnival You know know what that's like at a much smaller level. I know what that's like to watch you be so fully present and to give so much and have the capacity to I was blown away. You mentioned God Given gift the God-given gift of being present which which we all can have one of my favorite things that you've said You've said our faith journey isn't just about showing up on Sunday for a good sermon or good music or a meal It's about what we do Monday through Saturday as well Especially in those quiet moments when the spotlight's not honest when we're making the daily choices how to live our lives You say Jesus didn't limit his ministry to the four walls of the church He was out there fighting injustice speaking truth to power every day spreading the message of grace and redemption to the least the last and the lost And our charge is to find him everywhere every day by how we live our lives The life of Jesus is a model for democratic organizing Amen. Amen. Amen. Can you share the role faith plays in your life? Like right now Maybe how that's a moment. It's just it's always there for me I still don't go to church rarely partially because Barack and I felt like our presence in church is disruptive You know, yeah, and I feel like church is a personal space, you know, it's like we're like the elephant in the room Right and I Barack and I we don't need that experience. Yeah, so it's almost like a courtesy to say um we'll just you know But it keeps us our faith keeps us going every single day um It it it just is yeah, it is a how do you know God exist? It's what I believe in my heart. Yeah, it's by it. I don't you know, that's what faith is yeah I you know, it's hard to explain faith because when when it is in the message um That's my personal belief I I do understand that there are other types of faiths there other and I respect those appreciate them I do believe that it helps us as a people to have some kind of faith to believe in something higher than ourselves Because I just don't think we function well if we don't understand that we're not working for us You know, this isn't about us. We weren't put on this earth To just dress nicely and accumulate stuff Yeah, you know, we're not here winning for ourselves. You know, we're here For our human existence And that means we have to be operating knowing that someone somewhere out there Is bigger than us, you know um I that's just what I believe and it It centers how I Show up in the world. Do you have a doubt God exists? No, there's sometimes I'm disappointed but I don't Think that what I'm really disappointing in it in is God. It's just the the human It's it's the the averageness of us as humans Because we are not God and so we disappoint one another yeah But there is that feeling of why why can't you make this just a little easier for us? Why can't it be a little more obvious for for those of us who need more concrete faith? um But hard times or when your faith is tested the most um yeah, so yeah, I you know My certainty is like the certainty about me knowing myself you know It just is just is yeah, do you think we all have a calling or multiple callings or that our life is divinely orchestrated? I yes, I think that but I think that opportunity To um To develop that calling is not equal You know, I believe that every child is born with a light. I say this all the time we come here I felt it in myself when I was young yeah, maybe some of that intuitiveness. I was just born with But I knew that I was smart. I knew what I was capable of I was fortunate to have people in my life That fueled that light And it wasn't with money wasn't with it was with love and then that that made me stronger Made me show up in the world in a certain way and it attracted more love and attention to me um, but they're also too many kids Where that they never get that fuel It's there. It's the same light. That's what I want us to all see when we think about kids It's like it's not just our kids. Yeah, I think our kids are my kids my girls are special But the kids who have less who aren't seen who aren't loved who aren't nurtured who don't have resources who live in poverty That specialness is there too. Yes, and I always think like wouldn't that be just like God To put the answer To all that we that ails us in the mind of a poor Black girl in sub-Saharan Africa And our job would be as a people To be so empathetic Yes, that we would give everybody the resources that that little girl who holds the secret could flourish And come to be God would do that right because that would test our faith and our ability to see ourselves in everyone and not just to think He put the answer where you would least expect it to be and it will require the most out of us all To tap into that specialness that gift that she has yes, you know Thinking about the millions of people right now that are like I don't know my purpose that That Is the purpose I think for all of us that I'm thinking right now Uh One of my best friends of 15 years Leah who's in the room actually She Was raised homeless in the projects and Philly that homeless in and out Her mom said to her your predicament doesn't determine your destiny She has someone speak that into her at her mom fast and not that long ago. She um she launched her jewelry line on QVC and And we just had this moment where I'm like you went from homeless to live broadcast to a hundred million hopes You know, she had someone speak that life into her And it's like we all can do that We all can do it you did that for me that yeah, we all can do as free And if and if our purpose is to find that for everyone To all for all kids, you know if we were Structuring our world our lives our choices That's what I want for for us as a people Understand that purpose right and to really be invested and really thinking through how we find that in all of our children Yeah, how do how do we do that? How do we restructure and order our steps? Yes, so that we're doing that good work Yes for all kids Not just kids who look like us who talk like us You know and that that love knows no borders no boundaries It's not a us and them. It's not yes America first Because those kids are everywhere all over the world, you know I know that that's that's the faith that guides me yes And when I the the fear that I feel is that we we're losing when we've when I feel like we're losing sight of that Yes, and our choices are grounded in something else Mm-hmm other than finding finding ways to tap into the purpose of more of us um Yeah, I think that's that's either at least that's my that's the faith that That keeps me focused. Yeah, I think that the call right now for so many people especially who Who maybe let's say they believe in the teachings of Jesus is uh to ask if they're living that way Yeah, right and and when you say the words uh The the least the last and the last that is how he lived our Who are we living that way and I think all of us um And all of us struggle yeah, you know all of us I you know um There's a A level of self-centeredness and focus and that's our nature, you know, I care. I want to make sure my girls are good, you know Um, we all you know But I also think that that that purpose of starting with your own is also okay You know, because you've got to start somewhere and one of my other purposes is being a good parent to the children that I brought into the world um Because I feel like well, it's it has to begin there Mm-hmm like I made the choice To bring these two beings and it was the best choice of my life of our lives as parents Barack and I those two girls are the best thing we will ever do Right So our first job is to get that right yeah, you know, that's one of the reasons I said when I became first lady when they asked Well, what are you gonna do first and I said well my first job is being mom and chief Yeah, and there was some women who took issue with that like well, aren't you gonna you know I was like yeah, yeah, I'm gonna work You know, I know how to work. I know what a job is But let me tell you how can I be the first lady mother to others if my girls aren't good You know um, and I think that's an okay goal To start with your own You know to fight for them to try to build a good life for them to give the ones you brought here opportunity But like once you've done that and you can you you can With resources and knowledge you can lock them into place pretty early And then there's still a lot of room to help other kids There's still room to that was something my mom my talk about my mom My brother and I were always good students. We were always top of the class at the public school and But she came to school as a pta mom to help other kids You know she she came to school and she would tell the kids. It's like My kids are fine But this little boy doesn't know how to read and as a parent of I would see her She'd be at my school not because of me, but because of some other kid. That's what she taught us. It's like You're good, but you're not I love you. You're special to me, but you're not special There are a lot of my mom's you say there are millions of Craig and Michelle's out there Is just who believes it to be true and who's willing to pour into them And that's how what I believe I believe that all these kids Have that light have that purpose have that power But do we believe that? Do we in our hearts believe that all kids deserve something more and better just like our kids And I think sometimes we struggle there. Yeah, yeah Oprah always says we don't become what we want we become what we believe Do you believe that oh? Definitely yeah, definitely yeah, who doesn't agree with Oprah? Right, I know I was I was literally I'd I'd usually go with my own gut on everything But I for this interview I triple checked with her. I'm like, okay. I've got the yellow blazer the bright blue blazer Matches the book cover and oh yeah This conversation with Michelle Obama is so incredible. We made it into one final part So get ready to dive deeper into how to hear your intuition and then trust it Express your authentic self and celebrate who you are you are not gonna want to miss this incredible part three of our Conversation with first lady Michelle Obama that's coming up in the next episode of the Jamie Kernley Michelle Remember this episode's not just for you and me. Please share this with every single person that you know because it can Impact and change their life to and if you love today's episode Please click the follow or subscribe button for the show on the app you're listening to it on or watching it on And if it added value to your life if you could give it a rating or review I would be so grateful five stars if you can and again Just share it with every person you believe and share it with another person in your life who could benefit from it Maybe you know someone needs to step into their authentic self or love who they truly are Please post the episode and share it with others online or in your community who just might need the words and tools and Lessons in this episode today You never know whose life you're meant to change today by sharing this episode And thank you so much for joining me today before you go I want to share some words with you that couldn't be more true you Right now exactly as you are are enough and fully worthy You're worthy of your greatest hopes Your wildest dreams and all the unconditional love in the world And it's an honor to welcome you to each and every episode of the Jamie Kernley Michelle here I hope you'll come as you are Heal where you need Blossom what you choose Journey toward your calling and stay as long as you'd like because you belong here You are worthy you are love You are loved and I love you and I cannot wait to join you on the next episode of the Jamie Kernley Michelle In life you don't sort the level of your hopes and dreams you stay stuck at the level of your self worth When you build your self worth you change your entire life and that's exactly why I wrote my new book worthy How to believe you are enough and transform your life for you If you have some self doubt to destroy and a destiny to fulfill worthy is for you And worthy you'll learn proven tools and it's simple steps that bring life changing results Like how to get unstuck from the things holding you back Build unshakable self-love Unlearn the lies that lead to self-doubt and embrace the truths that wake up worthiness overcome limiting beliefs and imposter syndrome Achieve your hopes and dreams by believing you are worthy of them and so much more Are you ready to unleash your greatness and step into the person you are born to be Imagine a life with zero self doubt and unshakable self-worth Get your copy of worthy plus some amazing thank you bonus gifts for you at worthybook.com or the link in the show notes below Imagine what you do if you fully believed in you It's time to find out with worthy Who you spend time around is so important as energy is contagious and so is self-belief And I'd love to hang out with you even more especially if you could use an extra dose of inspiration Which is exactly why I've created my free weekly newsletter That's also a love letter to you delivered straight to your inbox from me If you haven't signed up to make sure that you get it each week Just go to jameykernleema.com to make sure you're on the list And you'll get your one-on-one with Jamie weekly newsletter and get ready to believe in you If you're tired of hearing the bad news every single day and need some inspiration Some tips tools joy and love hitting your inbox. I'm your girl Subscribe at jameykernleema.com or in the link in the show notes And please note I'm not a licensed therapist and this podcast is not intended as a substitute For the advice of a physician Professional coach psychotherapist or other qualified professional