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Conscious Inklings Blogs

We created our blogs to be your mindful compass, guiding you through the intentional use of Conscious Ink to support personal transformation, foster mindfulness, and realize aspirations. Blog articles are often written by our founder and transformational coach, Frank Gjata, whose work has been featured in Yoga Mantra & Health, Modern Meditation, Fitness, Forbes, Shape, Yoga Journal, and The Good News Network, to name a few.

In our Ink Tips & Care Blog, you can discover practical ways to apply, wear, and sustain your Conscious Ink, fostering their lasting impact on your journey toward holistic well-being.

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Learning to Smile Through the Storms: Finding Strength Through Symbols and Community

Grief, healing, and resilience often begin with something small—a single word, a symbol, a moment of connection. For those who have lost a loved one to suicide, the journey forward can feel overwhelming, but finding reminders of hope and strength can make all the difference. At Conscious Ink, we believe in the power of words as a tool for healing, and we’re honored to spotlight the incredible work of Smile Through the Storms, a support organization dedicated to helping suicide loss survivors navigate their grief.

The Power of Words and Symbols in Healing

Words can carry immense weight. They remind us of who we are, what we’ve overcome, and the light that still exists even in our darkest moments. Whether spoken, written, or worn on the skin, words can be a powerful force for encouragement and renewal. This is the philosophy behind our Self-Harm & Suicide Awareness Collection—temporary tattoos that act as daily affirmations of resilience, courage, and self-compassion.

Simple phrases like “You are enough” or “One day at a time” can serve as gentle yet powerful reminders to keep going, even when the road ahead feels uncertain. These symbols don’t erase pain, but they can offer a tangible sense of support, something to hold onto when emotions become overwhelming.

A Community That Understands: Smile Through the Storms

Healing after loss is never a solitary journey, and that’s where community matters most. Smile Through the Storms was created to offer exactly that—a space where suicide loss survivors can find understanding, share their experiences, and receive support without judgment.

Founded by Deb Maxwell after the loss of her son, David "Bub" Shugart, Smile Through the Storms provides a compassionate, welcoming environment for those navigating life after suicide loss. Through bi-monthly meetings, both in-person and virtual, survivors can find connection, shared understanding, and a safe place to express their grief. As a nonprofit organization, Smile Through the Storms also raises awareness about the complexities of suicide loss and encourages open conversations around mental health.

Small Reminders, Big Impact

Sometimes, healing is about finding small things that help—a meaningful conversation, a handwritten note, or a simple word on your skin that reminds you to keep going. That’s why we created the Self-Harm & Suicide Awareness Collection, to provide individuals with a way to carry messages of hope with them each day.

Just as organizations like Smile Through the Storms offer support through human connection, these inked affirmations serve as personal reminders of resilience—a private yet profound way to hold onto hope. Whether you wear a word of encouragement for yourself or share one with a loved one who needs it, these symbols are a testament to strength, survival, and the unwavering belief that healing is possible.

You Are Not Alone

No one should have to walk through grief or struggle alone. Whether you’re looking for a community that understands or a daily reminder of your inner strength, there are tools to help you through. If you or someone you love has been affected by suicide loss, we encourage you to explore the invaluable resources at Smile Through the Storms. And if words speak to you, consider our Self-Harm & Suicide Awareness Collection as a small but powerful way to keep messages of resilience close to your heart.

Healing happens in moments, in symbols, in connections. Together, we can help each other through life’s storms, one step at a time.

Frank Gjata

Traffic, Idiots & Quantum Physics

What does traffic and idiots have to with quantum physics?

Well, stick with me here. I happen to be one of “those people" who believes that everything happens for a reason. And I mean EVERYTHING. Every little, tiny thing.

I believe the universe is so in synch with everything, and everyone, that it conducts a perfect orchestration coordinating all that happens in precise order, which allows us, all 8 billion of us, to experience what we experience. (Something similar to what was portrayed in the movie, “The Adjustment Bureau”. If you haven’t seen it, I recommend it. It makes an analogous point in an entertaining, “Hollywoody” sort of way.)

On the surface, the traffic, or the erratic maneuver by the idiot driver in front of us, may seem like just an unfortunate random coincidence. But, if you have the perspective that everything happens for a reason, you might instead ponder the possibility that these circumstances are happening “for us” instead of “to us”.

Maybe the traffic or erratic maneuver happened to prevent us from getting into an accident up the road. Or maybe those occurrences have nothing to do with us specifically, as they may have happened so that another person could experience what they’re supposed to experience.

You get the point.

So, the next time you find yourself stuck in traffic, or the idiot driver in front of you knocks you of course, take a breath, and ponder this perspective.

And if you really want to be a Jedi Master of the theory of “traffic, idiots and quantum physics”, you can go ahead and wield some genuine gratitude for those circumstances.

Doing so will put you in a calm, appreciative state of mind, which is a very high energy state, especially compared to how most of us typically react to traffic and idiots.

As we know, it’s the energy we hold, our state of being, that influences, or “orchestrates”, the experiences we have. Positive energy tends to lead to positive experiences. Negative energy tends to lead to negative experiences. And we always have the opportunity to pull something positive out of a negative experience.

It’s up to us.

We are all active co-conductors, along with the universe, composing and arranging our reality.

I'll end on that note.

Frank Gjata

Conscious Ink Founder

Frank Gjata

Feel The Gratitude! (Just Beware The "Gratitude Grinch"!)

We’ve all heard about the power and benefits of having an attitude of gratitude. And it’s true. When we focus on what we’re grateful for, we emit an energy that welcomes more things to be grateful for. It’s the opposite of a vicious circle…it’s a delicious circle, you could say.

Conscious Ink