Therapy is expensive — so is avoiding taking control

How My New Tattoo Sparked This Episode (and a Shoutout to Big Brothers Big Sisters)

Timeless Tattoo: timeless-tattoo.com

Big Brothers Big Sisters Foundation: bbbsatl.org

Healing Costs Something Either Way

Healing always costs something either way, might not be money — but it might cost your comfort, your old habits, or even past versions of yourself.

And if I’m being honest, there were parts of my past self I wasn’t exactly in love with — but losing them was worth the price.

From the tools I’ve learned in therapy and mental health coaching, I’ve gained better autonomy, higher self-esteem, and a stronger sense of what’s true about me.

So, I present to you the Broke Girl Starter Pack for Healing — three free things that have actually helped me heal the things I’ve struggled with.

Broke Girl Starter Pack for Healing:

1. Journal your delusions until you find the truth.

Self-deprecating thoughts are real.

And in a world obsessed with social media perfection, it can feel weird to admit you feel ashamed or not good enough.

This one came to me after getting my tattoo — I caught myself worrying about how people might perceive me.

Thoughts like:“You’re not good enough.”“You look unprofessional.”“Oh, she sounds weird and has tattoos.”

I’ve always struggled with perception. Because I already sound different, I sometimes feel like people will find more things to pick apart. So when I do something visible — like getting a tattoo or piercing — those self-deprecating thoughts get loud again.

So what do I do? I write.

I write those thoughts down — then I write what’s true.

For me, one truth is that my voice isn’t perfect because of my vocal cords, but that doesn’t make me less capable.

Writing helps with anxiety and overthinking because it separates the noise from the truth — and that’s exactly what I did after my tattoo.

2. Talk to your friends about what you’re going through.

Real friends tell you the truth — and they’ll get tired of your crap in the best way possible.

When you’re self-sabotaging or stuck somewhere unhappy (in work, relationships, or your goals), your friends can be the mirror you need.

Example: I was feeling stuck at work. I was showing up, doing my job, but not really living.

Then a friend in Charleston said, “Hey, come work with me.”

That one conversation woke me up. It made me realize how unhappy I was — and that I didn’t have to stay there. Even though I didn’t end up moving to Charleston (partly because it wasn’t the right time), that moment shifted something in me.

Real friends help you wake up — and realize what’s internal about what you’re going through.

Note: Don’t use your friends as therapy, but don’t be afraid to talk to them either.

Chances are, they’re going through something similar or can at least remind you that you’re not alone. That’s called being a good friend.

3. Take action — and stand on that move.

This is something I learned through mental health coaching.

If you know something makes you unhappy, make a move forward — as long as it’s healthy and thought-through.

And don’t let people make you second-guess it.

When I decided to move in with roommates, people said things like,“Wow, you lived alone — that’s such an accomplishment!”Or they’d go on about the whole “independent woman” narrative: own car, own place, doing it all alone.

But honestly? I wasn’t in a good place.

I wanted to save money and be around people again — and that was the right move for me.

And that’s growth, not regression.

I made a move and stood on it.

Now, two years later, I’m in a good place because I needed that sense of community.Sure, I felt a little ashamed at first — like I’d failed somehow — but I knew living alone again would be part of my future, just not right now.

Final Thought

Healing isn’t always glamorous. It’s messy, humbling, and sometimes looks like crying over a journal or rethinking your next move.

But healing costs something either way — and the investment is always worth it.