Emotions

Communication Compass

Language Lessons

In life, I have learned
That language is a powerful tool
- It can make you feel like a king
Or even feel like a fool

But the feelings come from within
No one can give them to you
You can choose what you feel
Or you can choose to be a victim who

Believes what others say
And leads a disempowering life
Instead of simply exercising choice
To avoid suffering and strife

When you say that you can’t
You’re saying there is no way
But in reality there is…
It’s just what we’re programmed to say

When you use universals
Like all, never, and none
It can leave you feeling stuck
As if decisions are already done

If you use your past experiences
And bring them along with you
You’re living in the past
While predicting the future, too

Things won’t change unless you do
And your words can be the key
To unlock the door to success
Where you are empowered & free!

Copyright © Cybil Smith

Gratitude

Grateful…
Full of gratitude
Thankful…
For the right attitude

To see the good
Even when there’s bad
To appreciate
Times both happy and sad

Gratitude is a feeling
Felt deep within your soul
Something to experience
Not something you control

Until you’re grateful for yourself
It’s hard to both give and receive
Gratitude and appreciation
From even those who believe

You must first believe in yourself
And know you are full of worth
That you deserve all the good
Bestowed upon you at birth

No matter what lies
You’ve been led to believe
You can overcome
Breakthrough and achieve

Take one moment
And look deep within
Once you feel it
Go ahead and begin

Give thanks
For all you have and all you are
Appreciate yourself
You are a bright shining star

Copyright © Cybil Smith

Plugging In

expectations

Comfort Zone

Your comfort zone is designed
to keep you safe from pain
much like an umbrella is designed
to keep you dry when it rains

It’s simply a barrier
and can be removed when you decide
that what it’s protecting you from
is no longer something from which you want to hide

Just like the rain feels good sometimes
to fall upon your skin
It can be nice to go beyond
The comfort zone you’ve been in

It may feel unfamiliar
because – in fact – it’s true
it’s somewhere you’ve never been before
when your comfort zone defines you

But you can expand where you live
and broaden your comfort zone
when you take a little risk
and journey into the unknown

Your head will try to keep you
safely tucked inside
it’s the border patrol of your comfort zone,
familiar only with where you reside

But you can venture outside the zone
and successfully survive the risk, too
when you know what your values are
and honor what’s important to you

Knowing your purpose, why you’re here
and doing what you’re designed to do
will also keep you safe
as you’re being authentically you

And stretching out as you venture forth
- expanding your comfort zone
until it’s a place where you feel free
- a place you’re proud to call your own

Copyright © Cybil Smith

Redefine Your Resolutions

Have you defined some resolutions,
determined what you’ll do this year?
It may be time to redefine them
so they’re attainable and clear

Often we say what we’ll quit
but what will go in it’s place?
If it’s a habit you’ve long lived with
it will return if it’s not replaced

And then there’s things we want do,
but you have to let something else go.
That time is already being used -
so your values are important to know

For your time is best spent on what you value
- the things that are important to you.
Establish boundaries to maintain
the space to do what you love to do

So reconsider your resolutions,
redefine them for greater success.
Give gratitude for all you have
and you will continue to be blessed.

Copyright © Cybil Smith

Confidence & Esteem

Self-esteem and confidence
are often interchanged
but they are two distinct feelings
that usually need rearranged

From where you are
to where you want to be
from feeling stuck in the mud
to feeling completely free

So it’s important first to understand
the distinction between the two -
confidence is how you feel about your abilities
self-esteem is how you feel about you

You can have one without the other
though they often go hand in hand
when you’re confident in your abilities
you tend to feel good – understand?

And when you feel good about yourself
your confidence can grow
but it also works the other way -
a fact you might already know

So if you ever start to feel
your esteem or confidence go down,
do what you can to find a way
to turn it all around

Change your body language,
find something else to focus on,
get and stay in motion -
until that feeling’s gone

Take care of yourself -
it’s your right and responsibility;
and in the end you will find
it’s your key to being free

Copyright © Cybil Smith

Path of Least Risk

When you want something

What path will you take?

Will you follow what is there

Or your own trail will you make?

Will you choose the path that’s there

…The path of least resistance

Or at least that’s how it appears

When you look from a distance

You see the road – paved & smooth

It appears it would be easy

But sometimes there are hidden

Ups and downs that can make you queasy

And often when you follow

You find the path will lead

Somewhere you didn’t want to go

Because you didn’t read…

The signs along the way

With the warning they supplied

That the road wasn’t paved for you

…It was someone else’s guide

The path of least resistance

May guide you astray

So I suggest that you

Always forge your own way

It will not be the path of least risk

Or the path of least resistance

But it is the path of greatest reward

When you follow it with persistence

Copyright © Cybil Smith