Michelle Obama appeared on Tuesday’s episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The former first lady discussed her best-selling memoir, Becoming, and how marriage counseling helped her and Barack Obama.

“One of the reasons why this book is resonating with so many people is because they see themselves in my journey,” Michelle said.

“The eight years in the White House is really just the last segment of it. It’s really all those stories of growing up in the neighborhood, playing double dutch and having your first fight. [And] that teacher that punched you in the gut and told you something that hurt your feelings. That culmination of that journey is all of our paths to becoming.”

Michelle told the late-night host the book could have been “800 pages” but joked it would have taken Barack much longer to read.

While discussing her husband, Michelle explained why she thought it was important to include stories about marriage counseling.

“I’m taking you to marriage counseling so you can be fixed, Barack Obama. I was like, ‘I’m perfect.’” —Michelle Obama

“Marriage is hard, even for us who have a good relationship,” she said. “It was turning point for me understanding it wasn’t up to my husband to make me happy. I had to learn how to fill myself up and had to put myself higher on my priority list.”

Michelle revealed that just like much of anything else in life, sustaining a marriage is all about putting in the work.