To Bee or Not to Bee, That is the Question

It happens in an instant. One minute you are living your life, the next, a honeybee digs its barbed stinger into your delicate skin, leaving behind a painful, venomous prick. For you, it is nothing but a wrinkle in time, a setback that will heal within a week, but for the bee, when it tries to retract its stinger into its body, it will rip in half and its tiny organs will scatter, therefore ending its life.

Thinking about the life of a bee can help put into perspective how humans should react when facing similar moments of anger. Would you end your life for one punch in a fight or one insult in an argument? No. So why let our negative emotions prevail in the face of adversity?

Take a Beet

Whether a friend makes a rude comment or your mom is calling just to yell at you, it’s hard. Your face turns bright red, your hands clench into fists and the only words that are coming out of your mouth are not appropriate for the VALLEY website.

Instead of reacting and going for the sting, stop talking for a second. Listen to what the other person is saying and remain silent. It may be difficult, but it will be worth it. Silence is a powerful weapon, and people are often afraid of what they cannot do themselves.

Take deep breaths! It may be a little cliché, but taking deep breaths is scientifically proven to reduce stress, slow heart rate and induce tranquility. Try the 4-7-8 method; inhale for four seconds, hold for seven and exhale for eight. Or optionally, breathe to your own rhythm and do what feels comfortable in the moment.

You could also “buzz” off! Sometimes removing yourself from a situation entirely can be beneficial. Before bees sting, they show behavior and warning signs. Whether a bee’s buzzing is amplified or it sticks its abdomen towards you, these are all signs a bee is about to attack. So would you stay and get stung by the angry instinct, or would you swat your hands while simultaneously running away? The answer is clear: you would never stay in a circumstance where danger is present.

Bee a Bee

It is easy to get wrapped up in our emotions, especially when our “id,” the part of the mind that runs off impulses, takes over, but if we try to take a hint or two from bees, maybe we will be less angry and overall happier. Maybe while you are at it, you can try pollinating your friends with (pollen)itivity, so that they can grow into beautiful flowers and maybe make some honey, to make life sweeter.

How can you practice beeing mindful? Let us know @VALLEYmag on Instagram!

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