When I’m feeling stressed I start picturing a specific GIF in my head. It’s a GIF that is meant to help the viewer focus their attention and breathing. This particular one begins as a single dot, expands to a line, then a triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, and lastly, an octagon. Then the polygon goes in reverse: 8 sides, 7 sides, 6 sides, 5, 4, 3, 2, and finally a single dot. The movement repeats and repeats (as GIFs do) and is supposed to guide the viewer through inhaling as the polygon expands and exhales as it contracts.
When I picture this GIF, I’m able to slow my breathing, slow my thoughts, and calm my overstimulated nervous system. By picturing the polygon and slowly counting its sides, I am able to refocus my attention on how I’m reacting to the world around me – physically, emotionally, and intellectually. It helps me slow down, reassess, and regain control of my instinctual reactions so that I can have better and more intentional reactions. If you ever see me start breathing slowly and my eyes become a bit unfocused, you now know exactly what is happening in my head.
The Torah describes our very essence with the word “neshama,” which translates to both “breath” and “soul.” Each inhalation is a chance to reconnect with our Neshama, letting the divine enter our bodies and lives. Each exhalation is a chance to release tension and refocus. By consciously counting our breaths, we are able to bridge the physical and spiritual, mirroring the Omer’s core principle.
The Omer, the 49-day period between Passover and Shavuot that we are currently in, is a time for self-reflection and spiritual growth. Traditionally, we count each day of the Omer, marking our passage from the Exodus from Egypt to receiving the Torah at Mt. Sinai. This year let’s incorporate a practice that deepens our connection to the Omer’s essence: mindfulness.
The Omer’s counting process itself can be a mindfulness exercise. As we recite each day’s count, we can consciously slow our breath, feeling the rise and fall of our chest. With each inhalation, we can silently refocus our attention from stress and anxiety and dedicate ourselves to the wider goals we have for ourselves and our lives. With each exhalation, we can release negativity and distractions.
By incorporating mindful breathing into our Omer practice, we elevate the counting process from rote recitation to a transformative experience, letting our minds slow, and putting our stresses in perspective. Each breath becomes a mindful moment, a chance to connect with our inner selves and cultivate the character traits we aspire to embody. As we reach nearly halfway to Shavuot, we strive to arrive not only with a completed count but also with a renewed sense of purpose and clarity.
May these next 25 days bring you and all of us closer to the calm center that is too often missing from our daily lives. May each of us take a deep breath when needed, and push aside the stresses and anxiety of everyday life. May each of our journeys bring us closer to our passions and purpose and further from the things that restrict and limit us. May we rediscover the neshama that lives within us all this omer season. Shabbat Shalom.