The Story Behind My First 3 Stickers: Healing, Humour & Hope in Every Design
Hey Tribe,
Let's talk stickers - and not just any stickers. These are the first three designs that kicked off Breaking Chains Tribe, and each one carries a piece of my story, my healing, and my hope for others walking a similar path.
Practise Safe Sects
This was the very first design I ever created - and honestly, it still makes me smile every time I see it on the back of my phone case. What I love most is seeing that same smile on other people's faces when they catch a glimpse of it. It's cheeky, it's clever, and it's layered with meaning.
Growing up, purity culture wasn't just a suggestion - it was a rulebook. One that followed you well into adulthood. I wanted to create something that poked fun at the rigidity while also offering a little healing. "Practice Safe Sects" is a reminder that we can unlearn harmful beliefs, laugh at the absurdity of them, and still honour the journey it takes to get there.
It's not about mocking - it's about reclaiming. And this sticker is a small but mighty way to do just that.
My Money, My Choice
This one came next - and it was born from the realisation that secrecy and control were backed into the system I grew up in. When you're raised in a high-control group, you don't always realise how unusual things are... because you've got nothing else to compare it to.
We weren't allowed to have secrets - because "God sees all." But outsiders? They weren't even allowed to walk in without being vetted. You had to be "witnessed to" before you could attend.
"My Money, My Choice" is about autonomy. About reclaiming your right to talk about your journey and reclaiming the right to make your own decisions - financial, spiritual, emotional - without guilt or manipulation. It's a reminder that your choices are yours alone.
Freedom
This one is close to my heart - because it was inspired by my kids.
As a parent, I've spent a lot of time thinking about what kind of belief system I want my children to grow up with. I didn't want to project my own pain onto them, but I also didn't want to pretend everything I went through was okay.
So, I made a decision: I wouldn't introduce religion unless they brought it up first. I wanted them to explore the world with curiosity, not fear. And when I sat down to design this sticker, I wanted it to be something that spoke to the child in all of us - something playful, empowering and full of possibility.
"Freedom" is about choice. It's about healing the inner child who didn't get to choose. These designs are more than just art - they're little symbols of resilience, rebellion and recovery.
Let's keep breaking those chains together,
Lauren
Founder, Breaking Chains Tribe
