Michelle Obama has advice for girl's battling self-doubt

CNN's Sara Sidner moderates a timely discussion about empowering girls across the globe with former First Lady Michelle Obama, Amal Clooney and Melinda French Gates.
#michelleobama #sarasidner #News

[sanjanahegde]

"You knew who you were when you were in high school. And you let go of some of that for lots of reasons. People. College. Situations. People around you. And once you relearn to re-be the girl you were in high school you will grow into the full woman you will be."

This. I needed to hear this. I'm going to keep coming back to it every time I need motivation.

Also, "We all knew who we were when we were little. We knew our power then. It was just second-guessed. Follow that instinct. Pay attention to that flame in you. Because it is REAL. Keep it fueled. And don't let anyone try to blow it out because you're going to need that."

Thank you. 🌸

[terrasai]

I’m a grown man struggling with self doubt and this was still helpful.

[perfectlycontented]

I’m a full grown person and I could watch this over and over again 😭 thank you, amazing women, for being open with your self-doubt

[thessalymeteora]

If I could give my 25 year old self advice it would be to stop being a doormat and start standing up for myself. Stop people pleasing and be assertive. I just turned 40 and I’m learning how to do these things now. ❤

[CookieBear]

It’s nice to hear things like this every once in a while, especially as a 25 year old woman. We put so much pressure on ourselves, but it’s important to look back and see just how far we’ve come

[Cynariaa]

I needed to hear all of this so bad.
We are so much more powerful than we realize and our intuition keeps us safe and empowered.

[komalafzal]

I believe that there are no coincidences in life. This video wasn't one either. Michelle and Melinda's words really struck a chord with me as a soon to be 24 year old. I'm realizing how much I gave up because of self-doubt and selfish people around me, who merely looked at me as a tool to fulfill their needs and wants first, without me having the proper chance or ability to recognize my own, in the midst of emotional blackmail and over-scrutinization and judgements of my actions. I now realize, I am free and I am worthy. Alhamdulilah.

[serene_life]

Michelle Obama is certainly passing the light on to the women and girls in the world. It's her virtue and compassion that radiates and has a lasting effect. So much love and best wishes to her and her family. Thank you for being so open and true.

[andersonb.]

Seeing our own Wanjiru Wahome 🇰🇪 share the platform with these powerful women wow we are so proud of her

[janicestevenson]

"In order to break the cycles of negativity, you got to get up every day and do the work right before you."
Thank you for this wisdom Michelle O'Bama.
Women's work is often denigrated, even if it is what is holding things together at a deep and subtle level. Here is an excerpt from the writings of Marshall Vian Summers about work and the value of it, not whether it is considered great or small by the world.
"My mission is great. Therefore, I am free to do small things. It is only your grandiose ideas, which are a cover for fear, anxiety and despair, that you would avoid the small things that are required for you to do in the world. Again, do not confuse the greatness of your mission with the smallness of your duties. Greatness expresses itself in the smallest thing, in the tiniest action, in the most fleeting thought, in the simplest gesture and in the most mundane circumstances... Therefore, be content doing small things in the world. Be simple and humble in the world so that greatness may flow through you without obstruction." (MVS, Steps to Knowledge)

[mayohsetsuna]

If I could give my 25yr old self advice? I’d tell her to do it all for YOU, and not for someone else.

[SvenErik_Lindstrom]

I am a 42-year old man battling with self-doubt - and I just gave a good lecture at my country's leading university.

[veileen]

“There is power in what we do everyday” - that is profound to me 💕

[shelitarowe]

The positivity and encouragement is always felt genuinely by her. A real woman that inspires and lead by example! 💙

[tenzinlhak]

She is the woman I always look upto in my life. ❣️

[auntyayosstories]

Define failure as not trying! That's 🔥. Thank you

[ChrisAlbertH]

I don't know anyone who hasn't been a victim of self-doubt.
Even those who grew up in supportive and encouraging environments can fall prey to self-doubt because with the encouragement and acknowledgment, comes the tacit (and sometimes overt) high expectation from your environment. And when you're constantly being depended on and viewed as responsible, capable, or whatever other positive labels were given to you, the self-doubt comes from the feeling of being able to live up to those expectations.

[Mari-hbdo]

As someone who's been struggling with this a lot in my middle 20s now too and especially as life changing decisions come up, it's also the idea that to be taken seriously, I need to hide my Feminine side and be always in the masculine/aggressive energy because of authority or male figures that have been invasive, aggressive and/or disrespectful and I have had to constantly be on alert or defend myself, because those I come across often take advantage of my more gentle side so I'm always on defense mode... like, you can not be taken seriously unless you look or act more masculine or be extra serious.

Ms. Michelle's words have helped me through very dark, difficult periods and thoughts of self-doubt, seclusion, feeling misunderstood. In addition to that, Ms. Michelle herself is an inspiration and showcasing how those in important positions are human, too and have self-doubts which are, as she says pushed onto us by society on purpose.

[joannafernandes]

I'm going to listen to this every day. When Melinda and Michelle said you knew who you were you knew your power and it was second-guessed, I felt that. I was the third highest-ranking student in my class and always met with crude remarks like why do you study so much are you working on a PhD along the way I internalized it. Now it's time for me to step in my full power and potential for me, the woman of the future generations and the one that has gone before making sacrifices and paving the way for us.

[elenavernon]

She is amazing, she broke down the simple truth!