From Prison Cell to Personal Power: Rebuilding Self-Worth After Betrayal (with Nicole Banks)

From Prison Cell to Personal Power: Rebuilding Self-Worth After Betrayal

After discovering her husband's multiple affairs, Nicole Banks found herself frozen with pain – unable to eat, sleep, or function. What followed was a journey through rock bottom that included divorce, depression, a serious error in judgment that led to prison time, and ultimately, a powerful path to reclaiming her self-worth. In this raw and inspiring conversation, Nicole shares how she went from feeling utterly lost to building a thriving coaching practice helping other women heal from divorce trauma.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

[00:02:00] Awareness of being completely disconnected from herself after divorce 

[00:05:00] Growing up in a strict religious household and entering a marriage directed by her father 

[00:13:36] Finding freedom after leaving both her marriage and religious community 

[00:17:32] Discovering her husband's repeated affairs over an eight-year period 

[00:23:52] The rock bottom moment that led to poor choices and legal consequences [

00:31:38] Nicole's experience of embezzlement, arrest, and being sentenced to prison 

[00:39:23] The powerful daily practice that helped her survive incarceration 

[00:52:12] Finding authentic love with a partner who values integrity and trust 

[00:55:11] Building a coaching practice to help women heal after divorce

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• When experiencing emotional trauma, we can become completely frozen and disconnected from ourselves
• Making choices based on others' expectations rather than our own desires can lead to profound unhappiness
• Trusting your intuition is vital even when others try to convince you otherwise
• During your darkest moments, focusing on "winning the day" can help rebuild mental strength
• Self-forgiveness is essential for moving forward after making serious mistakes

QUOTABLE MOMENTS

"I was numb. I was frozen like ice... I couldn't function. I couldn't put sentences together. I was truly like the word truly frozen in fear of anything moving forward, sideways, or backwards."

"I asked myself, what can I do every day to win the day? I've got to win the day... The only thing that they leave you with [in prison] are your thoughts."

"When you choose yourself, you love everything around you. If you truly love [others], you have to love yourself first."

PRACTICAL TOOLS

• Win the Day Ritual: Each morning, set an intention for how you want to show up. Each evening, ask yourself "What did I do well today?" and "What could I have improved upon?"
• Turning Down the Volume: Practice reducing both the external noise (distractions) and internal noise (negative self-talk) to regain clarity
• The Gratitude Addition: Add "What am I grateful for today?" to your evening reflection to shift perspective
• Relationship Deposits: Make intentional acts of care and kindness toward your important relationships

GUEST CONTACT

Nicole Banks - Divorce recovery coach helping women heal after heartbreak 

Website: https://nicholebanks.com/

Podcast: https://nicholebanks.com/podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msnicholebanks/

CONNECT WITH EIMEAR

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