By EEW Magazine Editors // Inspiration // Encouragement

Former First Lady Michelle Obama is full of wisdom and has always been eager to share the gems of knowledge that have shaped her into the inspirational and influential Christian she is today.

Here are 10 of our favorite quotes from the Ivy League-educated lawyer and the world’s most admired author of the NY Times best-seller, Becoming.

#1 On courage

“You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world's problems at once, but don't ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.”

#2 On negative attacks

“One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals. And so when I hear about negative and false attacks, I really don't invest any energy in them, because I know who I am.”

#3 On fear

“You can’t make decisions based on fear and the possibility of what might happen.”

#4 On challenges

“You should never view your challenges as a disadvantage. Instead, it's important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages.”

#5 On parenting

“With every word we utter, with every action we take, we know our kids are watching us. We as parents are their most important role models.”

#6 On risk-taking

 “Just try new things. Don't be afraid. Step out of your comfort zones and soar.”

#7 On mental and physical health

“Women in particular need to keep an eye on their physical and mental health, because if we're scurrying to and from appointments and errands, we don't have a lot of time to take care of ourselves. We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own to-do list.

#8 On self-care

“One of the things I realized is that if you do not take control over your time and your life, other people will gobble it up. If you don't prioritize yourself, you constantly start falling lower and lower on your list, your kids fall lower and lower on your list.”

#9 On healthy relationships

“Do not bring people in your life who weigh you down—and trust your instincts. Good relationships feel good. They feel right. They don’t hurt. They’re not painful. That’s not just with somebody you want to marry, but it’s with the friends you choose. It’s with the people you surround yourself with.”  

#10 On choosing friends

“We should always have three friends in our lives. One who walks ahead who we look up to and follow; one who walks beside us, who is with us every step of our journey; and then, one who we reach back for and bring along after we’ve cleared the way.”  

While there are many more quotes that could be shared, these are among the most impactful.

Since you can never have too much inspiration in your life, when someone is sharing genuinely sound, useful, thoughtful and helpful words, try listening and applying what they’re passing along to you.