Beauty in Being Broken: How Megan Lisondra’s platform prioritizes mental health advocacy
May 22, 2025
Photo provided by Megan Lisondra
Notes: This week’s entry touches briefly on support and resources for survivors of trauma and violence. These topics are mentioned regarding Beauty in Being Broken’s support for local nonprofits.
Links to more information on each nonprofit are provided for optional viewing, but they may contain sensitive content. General summaries of each nonprofit mentioned are also listed here.
Beauty in Being Broken and this entry do not offer professional mental health services or advice. Support is available if you or someone you know is in crisis. Please reach out to a licensed professional or contact a crisis support line.
Through introspection, openness and advocacy, Megan Lisondra created Beauty in Being Broken to serve as a hub for mental health support and awareness.
About Beauty in Being Broken
Based in Colorado Springs, Beauty in Being Broken is the overarching name of Lisondra’s endeavors, all of which work to remove stigmas surrounding mental health. The list includes a clothing brand with items that Lisondra designs herself.
Lisondra uses design websites like Canva, consults loved ones and does sketchbook work to create designs suitable for hoodies, stickers, sweatshirts and more. She said all her products feature a quote and an image with a positive and mental health-centric message.
“I wanted something that could have more of a focus on mental health and positive imagery for the wearer to feel good in what they're wearing, and to feel kind of like a walking positive light to other people,” she said.
Beauty in Being Broken started in 2021 as a personal blog, where Lisondra documents her mental health journey, reflects on life changes, shares research findings and recounts vulnerable moments.
In one of her Substack posts, Lisondra said the name Beauty in Being Broken partially came from a Dermot Kennedy song called “Without Fear” that uplifted her during a time of personal hardships.
Lisondra also noted the influence of Kintsugi on the name; she described Kintsugi as a pottery technique in which broken works are pieced back together by filling the cracks with gold.
“They don't try to hide the breaks, they enhance [them]. And so, there's some beauty to that being broken, and I think that that translates really well to people, whether they have outward scarring or inward,” she said.
Lisondra started the small business side of Beauty in Being Broken in June of 2024. She said her Substack is still active despite fewer posts as a result of the expansion.
Beauty in mental health advocacy
Every time someone places an order with Beauty in Being Broken, part of the money made goes to local nonprofits.
According to the business’s website, Lisondra makes these donations to organizations like Crisis Text Line, To Write Love On Her Arms, Joyful Heart Foundation and RAINN. She noted that donations also go to a mix of veteran-focused mental health organizations and nonprofits that support people who have experienced domestic violence and sexual assault.
Growing up, Lisondra’s parents donated to local organizations when they had the means, and she said they taught and inspired her to do so today.
“They’ve raised my sister and I to understand, you know, there’s nothing wrong with helping other people, and the other way around, there's nothing wrong with asking for help,” Lisondra said.
Lisondra also highlights resources through a page on the Beauty in Being Broken website; the list includes everything from Psychology Today to a couple of webpages from the National Institute of Mental Health.
In addition to seeking mental health support from local resources, Lisondra encourages those in need of help to communicate with someone, noting that support can come from a trusted person if speaking with a professional feels uncomfortable.
“It all just starts with talking, and trusting the process and knowing that, you know, when you do start opening up about your emotions, it's not going to be sunshine and rainbows immediately, but you can start to feel the weight lift off and eventually, that sunshine, you'll find it,” Lisondra said.
Those interested can follow Lisondra and the Beauty in Being Broken page on Instagram.
Subscribe to Beauty in Being Broken here.
Photo provided by Megan Lisondra
