8 The Bartender

I will give others support and listen with empathy.

The saloon is rowdy tonight with every stool filled. From behind the bar, she looks around. She knows all these faces and their deepest, darkest secrets. She’s a good listener with a kind face. Everyone has managed to spill their guts to her at some point. A new face leans on the bar, her mood dark and her body sinking with exhaustion. The Bartender smiles at her. ‘What can I get ya, ma’am? Beer? Whiskey? Lend an ear?’

The Bartender is always in the saloon, ready to talk when you need to. For some of her patrons, she’s the only stable person in their tumultuous lives. She is sensitive to their feelings and encourages them to open up. Because she is grounded and secure in her own emotions, she is willing to give to other people. When you’re in a good place, the Bartender encourages you to support the people around you. Listen attentively and with empathy. Maybe they might want advice from a friend, or just to vent and discover their own solutions by putting their worries into words. Ask them to pull up a stool, grab a whiskey and tell you everything!

Being a good listener can be draining, and it’s easy to take on other people’s problems and emotional energy. Remember to look after yourself too. If you don’t feel up to it, you don’t have to give anything. Also take time to listen to yourself and your own emotions. Feel whatever comes up without judgement. The last thing you need is to feel bad because you feel bad!