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In a candid new episode of her IMO podcast, Michelle Obama opens up about her decision to skip Donald Trump’s second inauguration in January and reflects on the importance of making choices that are right for her, even if they go against public expectations.
The former First Lady revealed that her decision to miss the inauguration was not driven by bitterness or political disagreement, but rather it was simply “the choice that was right for me.”
In fact, Michelle shared that she had to “trick herself” into sticking with her decision, going so far as to ensure she wouldn’t be tempted to change her mind by not having a dress prepared for the event.
© Pool"I was like, if I'm not going to do this thing, I got to tell my team, I don't even want to have a dress ready, right? Because it's so easy to just say let me do the right thing," she explained. "It started with not having anything to wear."
Michelle also discussed how difficult it was for her to prioritize what felt right for her over what was perceived as the “right thing” in the public eye. “People couldn’t believe that I was saying no for any other reason, they had to assume that my marriage was falling apart,” she said.
© Marcus Ingram“It took everything in my power to not do the thing that was perceived as right, but do the things that were right for me, that was a hard thing for me to do," she added.
During the conversation, Michelle and her guest, Taraji P. Henson, delved into the "art of saying no" and the emotional work that comes with setting boundaries. Michelle acknowledged that it's something she’s still working on, having "started training late in life" to develop the ability to say no when necessary.
© Pool“It’s a muscle that you have to build,” she explained. “And I think we suffered, because it's almost like we started training late in life to build that muscle, right? I am just now starting to build it.”
The former first lady also reflected on her ongoing commitment to being a role model for her daughters, Malia and Sasha, and the next generation of women. “I want our daughters, I want the young women out there… I want my girls to start practicing different strategies for saying no.”
© Andrew Harnik"I’m not one to pretend for protocol’s sake," she said, reinforcing her belief in living authentically. In the years since leaving the White House, Michelle has also been focusing on her personal growth.
“Going through therapy is getting me to look at the fact that maybe, maybe finally I'm good enough,” she shared. “We made it through. We got out alive. I hope we made the country proud. My girls, thank God, are whole. But what happened to me?”
© Tom Williams“Some of the most hurtful stuff that I experienced entering this life of public service at the heights that we entered into was during my husband's presidential campaign,” she said. Michelle also discussed how her outspoken nature was often mischaracterized.
“And then you get labeled as angry, you know because you talk forcefully or passionately about something." Despite the challenges, Michelle Obama continues to prioritize her well-being, set boundaries, and encourage others, especially young women, to do the same.
