Conscious Inklings Blog. IDEAS, INSIGHTS & INK-SPIRATION.

There are few things more powerful than the simple act of standing.

Gandhi stood for peace. Martin Luther King Jr. stood for equality. Mother Teresa stood for compassion. Hardly pushovers.

So what makes this standing so powerful?

When we stand for something, we have an unwavering commitment toward it. It’s clear and definitive. There’s no wasted energy thinking and rethinking, deciding and un-deciding, hemming then hawing. So those who stand for something enjoy super-concentrated energy.

And that’s just the beginning.

Since the entire universe loves clarity, it naturally and bountifully supports it. For example, a tree is definitive in being a tree. The universe abides by the tree’s decision and thus fully supports the tree by supplying everything it needs – sun and water, etc. The same holds true with us. When we stand for something AUTHENTIC within us, we will be supported by the ENTIRE UNIVERSE. Yeah, baby, yeah … now we’re talking!

Let’s take a look at how it works the other way around. Until we make a conscious commitment to stand for some­thing, we stand for nothing. And when we stand for nothing, we’re lost in no man’s land. And in no man’s land, we can eat up a lot of energy quickly … perhaps by standing then sitting repeatedly, or standing until someone tells us to sit, or standing until someone sees us standing, so we quickly sit in fear of judgment.

What a mess.

No worries though. It’s a simple fix. First, get in touch with something that’s AUTHENTIC within the “real you” – your essence. Then make a conscious decision to stand for it.

Simple as that.

GET THIS INK

Now, here’s the trick: Make this decision when there’s NO PRESSURE to make this decision. Don’t wait for a set of circumstances to come up before you decide what you stand for! For example, if your essence likes the idea of integrity, make a decision right then and there that you stand for integrity. So then when a situation arises that might compromise your integrity, you automatically and effortlessly say no.

No questions asked. No energy leak. The decision has ALREADY been made. If, let’s say, certain circumstances arise before you’ve decided to stand for integrity, you may unconsciously get caught up in a particular story, rationalizing this or that, and ultimately make a incongruent decision.

The standing must come first.

One last thing … sometimes, before we can stand for something authentic, we must surrender something false, which may first require us to … fall to our knees.



Frank Gjata

Founder, Conscious Ink

~Frank Gjata, founder Conscious Ink

 

We humans forget. 

We do, right?

Our brains forget lots of things.

But our bodies remember. And, our subconscious remembers…EVERYTHING.

Unfortunately, some of the things our subconscious remembers are our old patterns (thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors) that no longer serve us. We’ve acted (or reacted, more accurately) the same way so many times, for so long, that they have become habits that we’re often not even aware of.

Enter Conscious Ink. This is the main reason I created these temporary tattoo reminders (or “interrupters”, if you will) to interrupt our subconscious patterns, so that we can consciously make new choices. It’s much more powerful and effective to “catch ourselves in the moment” and interrupt an old way of being because we actually “break” the old synapse (in real time) from firing the way it is used to. The more often we interrupt these old synapses, we create and wire new connections in our brain, which will eventually lead to new habits…new more loving, affirming habits…the ones we actually want!

“LOVE these. So far in one week they have given me more motivation than anything else I have tried to control my compulsive eating disorder ???”  ~KC

What’s cool is…that when you apply one of our Manifestation Temporary Tattoos and make a commitment to what you really want, every time you see it throughout your day, your ink (really, you) holds you accountable to your commitment…but in the most loving way. You can think of your ink as your precious “accountability buddy”.

So, is there an old habit, or subconscious pattern, you’d like support letting go of?

What is it? Name it.

And is there something that feels exciting to replace it with?

Really feel into what it is that you'd like. Speak it. Visualize it. Move with it.

Is there a word, message, or symbol that would feel supportive to you in your quest?

If something popped into your head just now, and you’d like to have this reminder to support you, jump on our site (www.ConsciousInk.com)

and see if we have it, or something similar. You can also just scroll through our Collections, and you may just find something that really grabs you, perhaps surprisingly.

We often say that we don’t pick the tattoo, the tattoo picks us. And that’s a lovely thing. The perfect foundation for teaming up to materialize your true desire.

So, the next time you glance at your ink and it wakes you up in the moment, you might say, “Well, looky here…my ink is holding me accountable!” And you can use that moment to shift your thought, belief, or behavior, and recommit to your desire.

Then, you can high five your higher self.

Cheers,

Frank Gjata

Founder Conscious Ink

You may be asking yourself, "Conscious Ink... why are you here?".  Ah, the great existential question! We're here to raise consciousness, one body at a time! You. Me. And maybe even Dupree (A movie reference) :-). We don't consider ourselves a temporary tattoo company. We consider ourselves more of a consciousness  company or an empowerment company, that utilizes inspirational temporary tattoos to support people on their journey. Our mission goes so much farther beneath the skin. 

So there you have it. Conscious Ink Manifestation Inspirational Temporary Tattoos are much, much more than body art. Convinced yet? Head over to our Conscious Ink Store and try them out yourself!

Many blessings,

The Conscious Ink Fam

That’s the funny thing about life though—you can ignore and resist the clues and messages all you want, but life will keep putting circumstances in front of you that give you the opportunity to learn the lesson.

The true nature of this universe is one of limitlessness-- the only limits that exist are the ones we impose on ourselves. These limits often come tightly wrapped up in the form of the beliefs we carry about ourselves and the world around us.

Keep in mind that every limiting belief existing in the now formed earlier under different circumstances. These beliefs at one point in time may have served us, but as time goes on these beliefs only serve to subdue the greatness we are all capable of. 

The key to breaking past these limiting beliefs is weakening, if not eradicating altogether, our belief in them. After all, the more true we believe these beliefs to be, the more power they can hold over us. It is the belief in limiting beliefs that makes them limiting.

Step 1: Identify a limiting belief.

A good way to weaken the hold limiting beliefs have on us is to deconstruct these beliefs down to the time and place in which we formed them. First it is essential to identify our personal limiting beliefs. We can do this by asking ourselves questions such as what isn't working? Often times the areas of life that feel empty or unnecessarily difficult serve as good indicators for where we hold limiting beliefs. 

Step 2: Float back to the moment of formation.

After identifying a given limiting belief, we can begin to sit with the feelings that accompany it and attempt to float back these feelings to the first time we experienced them. If we take note of the details of this memory--how old we were, what the surrounding environment was like, etc.-- it may become apparent why this belief formed in the first place. In some way this belief helped us to better adapt to the environments we grew up in. 

Step 3: See the mismatch between present day reality and the conditions under which the limiting belief formed. 

 Now we can bring our attention to the present day-- the people we have become, the resources available to us and the general scope of the environments we exist within. Does this belief make sense in the present situation? Chances are that it does not.

Deconstructing the origins of our limiting beliefs allows us to see the mismatch between these beliefs and our present day lives. This in turn opens our eyes to the inaccuracy of these limiting beliefs, thus weakening our belief in them.

As a result, we take the power away from the negative Nancy's running amok through our heads and reclaim this power for ourselves. From here, we can become truly limitless. 

Amanda Brown 

Many of us tense against the adversities blowing us off our planned trajectories—the flat tires, the breakups, the diagnoses that come out of nowhere and thwart the best laid plans. We resist these things until we have no other choice but to stare down the barrel confronting us. This is our way of protecting ourselves, creating a shield between our most tender selves and the outside world.

We all come into life the same way, soft, open to the wonders of the world. With time we accumulate a potpourri of wounds that make us move through life more cautious than before, aware of the pain that can come of leading with an open heart. 

This instinct, while being an effective way to protect ourselves from pain, also hinders vulnerability. Vulnerability is the hub of a buoyant, connected, fully expressed life. In the words of Brenè Brown: 

"Vulnerability is the core of shame and fear and our struggle for our worthiness, but it appears that it's also the birthplace of joy, of creativity, of belonging, of love."

Everything out there that poses a threat to the protective wall we've enshrouded ourselves with is the wind whipping through a lake, sending currents through an otherwise still body of water. Humans resent the wind, we resent anything that threatens our illusion of control over circumstances that are clearly beyond our reach, anything that exposes us as something other than the stoic facades we present with. 

What if instead of hardening to our circumstances, we softened, letting ourselves bob and weave with the wind? Folded into the most raucous of storms is an opportunity for connection, expansion, wisdom. When we soften, we are more receptive to the lessons that these experiences have to offer us. We emerge from adversity with an ability to both handle more than we thought we were capable of and to empathize with others who are navigating tough times of their own.

The things we do in an attempt to gain a sense of control over the uncontrollable keep us hard. Leading with vulnerability is surrendering to life in all of its blustery excellence. Showing up when we can't control the outcome. Reaching out when our efforts may not be returned. Bowing to the storm when we might be swept away. 

 Amanda Brown

Depression can be a challenging and overwhelming experience, but there are ways to help manage and alleviate symptoms. Taking a mindfulness, whole person approach can help you address the root causes of your depression and develop strategies to manage your symptoms. Here are five ways to help when you are feeling depressed:

1. Practice self-compassion: Depression can be accompanied by feelings of shame and self-criticism. It's important to practice self-compassion and treat yourself with kindness and understanding. This can include things like taking a break when you need it, speaking to yourself in a gentle and supportive way, and acknowledging your strengths and accomplishments.

2. Engage in mindfulness practices: Mindfulness practices can help you stay present and grounded in the moment. This can include things like meditation, deep breathing exercises, or yoga. Mindfulness can help you manage negative thoughts and emotions and develop a greater sense of self-awareness.

3. Connect with nature: Spending time in nature can be a powerful way to manage depression. Research has shown that spending time in nature can reduce stress, improve mood, and increase feelings of well-being. This can include things like taking a walk in the park, going for a hike, or spending time in your garden.

4. Engage in creative activities: Engaging in creative activities can be a powerful way to manage depression. This can include things like painting, writing, or playing music. Creative activities can help you express your emotions and connect with your inner self.

5. Seek support: Depression can be isolating, but it's important to seek support from others. This can include talking to a trusted friend or family member, joining a support group, or seeking professional help. Remember, you don't have to go through depression alone.

Remember, managing depression is a journey, and it's important to take a whole person approach. By practicing self-compassion, engaging in mindfulness practices, connecting with nature, engaging in creative activities, and seeking support, you can develop the tools and strategies you need to manage your symptoms and live a fulfilling life.

How much power does a single word have? The great American poet, Emily Dickinson, has said, “I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word."