Girlfriend, if you've fallen in your recovery - if you've had a setback, slipped back into old behaviors, or feel like you're not where you "should" be - this episode is for you.

This morning, Lindsey was walking her 7-year-old son Blake to school when he fell hard while skipping in Crocs. Through his tears, he looked up and said, "I guess I shouldn't skip so fast to school." And in that moment, Lindsey realized something profound: Sometimes the fall is required. Not because we want to hurt, but because without the fall, we wouldn't learn any other way.

In this vulnerable episode, Lindsey shares her own painful fall in recovery - when she was lying to her treatment team, telling everyone she was "doing the things" while secretly still restricting out of fear. Her results weren't matching her actions, and she felt defeated. But that fall? It became her turning point.

Drawing from her figure skating background (landing her first double loop took countless falls), Lindsey reveals why falls aren't failures - they're required education. She addresses the shame that comes with relapsing, gives you permission to be right where you are, and shows you how to get back up without beating yourself up.

If you've been too afraid to risk falling or too ashamed to get back up, this episode will change everything.

Blake's Fall: The Morning Walk to School

Lindsey's Recovery Fall: The Painful Truth

The Figure Skating Metaphor: Landing the Double Loop

The Shame of Falling in Recovery

You Are Right Where You Need to Be

✨ Sometimes the fall is required - without it, we wouldn't learn any other way

✨ Falls aren't failures, they're required education - each one teaches you something

✨ Shame isn't about the fall - it's about what you're making the fall mean about you

✨ You are right where you need to be - not where you want to be, but exactly where you need to be to learn and grow

✨ You can't change what you won't acknowledge - getting honest is the first step to getting back up

✨ The fall is setup for your breakthrough - not a setback, but preparation for progress

✨ Recovery is learning a jump you've never done before - of course you're going to fall multiple times

✨ Staying stuck is its own kind of fall - it's just slower, more painful, and doesn't teach you anything

✨ You don't have to get up alone - reach out for help, let someone stoop down to your level

Step 1: Stop Beating Yourself Up Stop making the fall mean something about your worth. The fall is data. It's information. It's feedback. It's not a judgment on who you are.

Step 2: Get Honest Really honest. With yourself first, then with your treatment team, support system, and your people. Say: "I fell. Here's where I am. Here's what I need."

Step 3: Reach Out for Help Just like Lindsey stooped down to Blake's level to dust him off - you don't have to get up alone. In fact, you shouldn't. Let someone help you back up.

Step 4: Take the Lesson Forward Blake learned not to skip so fast. What are YOU learning from this fall? What does this fall need to teach you that you couldn't have learned any other way?

Step 5: Keep Moving Forward Maybe a little slower. Maybe a little more carefully. Maybe with more honesty this time. But keep going. Because recovery isn't about never falling - it's about learning to get back up.

About Your Falls:

About Growth:

Specific Scenarios:

The Risk Question:

This episode is essential listening if you:

Falls Are Not Failures: They're required education. Each fall teaches you something you couldn't learn any other way.

The Length of Your Struggle Doesn't Matter: Whether this is your first fall or your hundredth, you can still get back up and keep going.

Results Not Matching Actions Is a Sign: It means you're not being fully honest - with yourself or others. That realization IS the breakthrough.

You Can't Skip the Lesson: Just like Blake couldn't skip learning to slow down without falling, you can't bypass the lessons recovery requires.

Honesty Is the Turning Point: Once you get real about where you are, you can finally do something about it.

Blake was skipping too fast → You might be rushing recovery, trying to do it perfectly

Lindsey kept warning him to be careful → Your body, treatment team, loved ones have been giving you signals

He fell hard and got hurt → You've had a setback, relapse, or painful realization

He reached out for help → You don't have to get up alone - reach out

Lindsey stooped to his level → The right support meets you where you are, doesn't shame you

She dusted him off → You can clean yourself up and start fresh

He learned the lesson → "I shouldn't skip so fast" = awareness leads to change

He got back up and kept going to school → You get back up and keep moving toward recovery

Just like Lindsey fell countless times before landing her first double loop jump - and it became her favorite jump BECAUSE of all the falls - your recovery falls are teaching you:

And eventually, when you land it, recovery will become your favorite part of your story. Not in spite of the falls, but because of them.

You have permission to:

If you need support getting back up after a fall, Lindsey has spots open for one-on-one recovery coaching. She'll meet you exactly where you are - no judgment, no shame - and help you find your footing again.

Visit www.herbestself.co to book your complimentary consultation.

Let's turn your fall into your breakthrough.

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Lindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom.

If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs.

*While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.