Shining A Light On 'Glimmers'
Have you heard of glimmers? I’ve heard the phrase quite a lot recently and I’m intrigued, so I decided to find out more…
“Being Able To Recognise Glimmers In Your Daily Life Is An Incredible Life Skill And Can Be A Game-changer For Your Mental Health.”
Abby Rawlinson
When I hear the word glimmers, it conjures images of sunlight bouncing off the surface of a lake… one of those moments that stops you in your tracks and makes you take notice!
It’s simply nature – a beautiful unison of water and light, yet in moments where the conditions are just right, it appears ethereal ✨
So, as I researched about glimmers it appears this image is pretty symbolic…
Glimmers are tiny moments in our day that conjure feelings of peace, safety and awe (who doesn’t want more of that in their lives?!).
The term ‘glimmers’ was developed by Dr Stephen Porges in the 90s, but was brought into the limelight just a few years ago by Deb Dana, a clinical social worker specialising in complex trauma, and it even went viral on TikTok in 2022 - no wonder I’ve heard about it so much recently!
Glimmers can be recognised more easily as the exact opposite of a trigger.
Triggers are those unexpected moments when our minds suddenly go into high alert, brought on by something known or unknown in our environment. It could be a sight, a smell, a sound… and it immediately puts our body into the ‘flight or fight’ response!
Triggers engage the ‘sympathetic nervous system’ releasing adrenaline, which is not a bad thing if you need to run from danger, but being in this state of arousal for too long is not good for your health.
Glimmers, on the other hand, are deliberately noticing the smallest positive moments that cue the ‘parasympathetic nervous system’, moving the body into a state of ease.
Whereas triggers can leave us feeling anxious, scared, sad or even angry, glimmers make us feel calm, comforted and connected.
Why is it always easier to notice the negatives than the positives?
… like when that one bad comment you get outweighs the dozens of good ones??
Well, because our brains were evolutionarily hardwired to notice negatives, threats and dangers in an attempt to keep us safe – it’s what has ensured our human survival all this time, and it happens without us knowing!
Yet to notice the joy and safety and good in the world takes a little more work and concentrated effort… but it can be done. It is within our control!
So, although our brains are built this way from birth, we CAN change the road map - we can alter the neural pathways, this is called ‘neuroplasticity’ (essentially reorganising the routes in the brain due to an experience).
So, if you’re feeling deflated and defeated by negative thoughts, please be assured that it is within our capability to change this, with a little work and dedication, we can essentially rewire our brain to notice more positive things every day, and the long-term benefits to our emotional wellbeing are so worth it!!
[If you want to hear more about neuroplasticity see here.]
Glimmers Are Good For Our Mental Health
Glimmers bring you back to the present moment, which can alleviate moments of anxiety.
They can reduce the effects of stress, and also help to overcome symptoms of low mood and depression – counteracting the associated negative feelings, and offering respite from the dark, suffocating clouds, by presenting a moment of light, hope and peace.
NOTE: However, it’s important to clarify here that concepts such as glimmers are not intended to be an alternative to professional support, like counselling or medication, but more as an ‘add-on’; a beneficial tool to use alongside!
It is believed that with a little deliberate attention, regularly noticing glimmers can have escalating positive effects on our mental health, regulating the nervous system and improving our emotional resilience.
The more we do it, the more we notice, and the more it moves from a conscious effort to effortless awareness.
So no, it’s not a term taken from a unicorn cartoon (as I perhaps first thought), glimmers are scientifically backed, seriously beneficial moments in our daily lives that can have effective, long-term advantages to our wellbeing.
Micro-moments
Notice the emphasis on the words like ‘tiny’ and ‘smallest’? Glimmers are micro-moments, not grand gestures!
For example, some of my glimmers over the past few days have been:
The citrus scent of my face cleanser; I feel invigorated.
Seeing the sunshine lighting up my view of the back garden; I feel comforted.
Cuddles from my 8-year-old (offered for free from him, not forced by me!); I feel love.
Snuggling down in bed, wrapped under the warmth of the quilt as I get lost in my latest read; I feel content.
Hearing the birds singing through the open window; I feel hopeful.
My cat curling up on my knee, and her soft, rhythmic purring; I feel calm.
It’s a reminder to appreciate the little things and not to underestimate the smallest experiences.
How To Find Your Glimmers
It’s personal! Everyone’s glimmers will be different, so go out there, identify, and own, yours!
Where are your favourite places?
Spend time there and see what glimmers you notice.
Mine are outside in nature, or my bedroom when the afternoon sun is streaming through the window.Who do you most enjoy being around and feel most connected to?
For me, this would be family time! And time with close friends who I can have deep and honest conversations with… along with the laughs of course, I’m not all straight-faced and serious!Mindfulness – have you tried mindfulness? Do you find it helpful and positive, or do you think it’s a load of rubbish?
I must admit it’s something I have struggled with in the past!
I love the notion, and I want to say that I live mindfully, I know it is a strategy that can bring clarity, calm and positive wellbeing, but for me, the name mindFULness is a challenge in itself – as someone who spends far too much time and energy in their own head(!) I need to find things that release my mind, not fill it further! So I don’t have a name yet to identify this (suggestions on a postcard!) but I like to see it as pausing in a moment or experience and actively dropping out of my (thinking) head and down into my (feeling) body.
What is it I feel? What can I hear and smell and touch… What can I experience without thinking about it? It’s more about letting it come to me…
Willing To Give It A Try?
Start small by noticing just one glimmer in your day. And try to really lean in to how it ‘feels’!
Why not carry around a mini notebook with you and jot down just one word that represents a glimmer you’ve noticed during the day.
See how these accumulate over a week…
Do they get easier to spot?…
Have you started to notice more than one a day?…
Is it easier to sink into the positive, comforting feelings they ignite?…
And remember:
The smallest actions can have the BIGGEST effects!
Why not get in touch and let me know how you find this, share your experience or just say “hi” here:
And if you feel like you need support for depression, anxiety, triggers or any other mental health concern, please see the Helpful Links page - you don’t need to struggle alone.
I love glimmers. You have to work harder to focus on them. Joy is a muscle to be flexed.
I love this post Julie. I am going to try finding my glimmers in my favourite spot in the garden under the lilac tree which is smelling beautiful at the moment. Xxxxx