A Glimmer of Hope
Jackie Hilleger discovers how daily micro-moments can provide glimmers of gold for a happier state of mind.
As I step outside for my routine walk, I fail to let bad weather or a sporadic rain shower ruin my day. Instead, I choose to see fresh drops of transparent pureness, nature’s growth tonic, and that weird, funny feeling of droplets softly tapping the crown of my head. I no longer take an umbrella or run to safety when it is time to walk my dogs; I embrace the rain for what it is, knowing it has an unpredictable manner.
Puddles of water circle my feet, and with child-like excitement, I remove my thongs and walk through the small body of collected rainwater. Nothing a good shower, and a change of clothes can’t fix when I reach home. Those little moments when we feel excitement through our body are called ‘glimmers’ and they are micro-moments of delight and calm, calling out for us to notice and embrace them in a different form.
When our mind is all consumed with thoughts, we forget to be more mindful and to slow down, and dance in the rain. If you have ever paused to notice and experience a small moment of pleasure, then you too have experienced a glimmer. Glimmers is a relatively new term, introduced by Deb Dana, a clinical social worker, author, and speaker, specialising in complex trauma. Her lifetime work is focused on the Polyvagal Theory (understanding and resolving the impact of trauma in other people’s lives). She describes glimmers as “micro-moments that begin to shape our system in very gentle ways, make us feel happier, hopeful, safe, and more connected.”
The parasympathetic nervous system becomes stimulated with positive feelings when a glimmer is noticed; and the opposite of a glimmer is a trigger. While glimmers evoke positive feelings, triggers evoke negative feelings. Your fight-or-flight response is activated when you are triggered, flooding your body with a sense of anxiety, anger, fear, or sadness. It could be a reaction from a past event, memory, or threat. If you suffer from trauma or PTSD, glimmers can help you regulate your nervous system, and bring you closer to a sense of balance in your life.
You can turn your triggers into glimmers by being more present and becoming aware of the hundreds of small happenings in your surroundings. Glimmers can reduce your stress levels, help rewire your brain to the positive, and enhance your daily mental health and wellbeing. To try this new version of a natural high, be on the lookout to catch those brief glimmery moments before they disappear. On your lunch break at work, venture outside and catch a few. How do they make you feel internally? Do they give you more energy, excitement, and gratefulness?
A cluster of glimmers can be like pushing the reset button on your day, and over time it will improve your mood and outlook on life. It may even create more motivation for you to achieve your goals and appreciate everything that you already have. We all have dark times in our life, that can be lightened when we see the positive. Although it can take a while for you to become accustomed to seeing your glimmers, start by setting yourself a goal of five per day, then work on increasing that number. You can take photos of them on your phone (but don’t get caught down the social media rabbit hole!), write them down in a ‘glimmer journal’, or retain them in your memory to think back on.
Pick up on glimmers through your five senses – it may be a feeling, taste, aroma, a sound, or something visual. When you are constantly looking at your phone, you block these sensations. Make it a habit to put your phone down when walking outside, as planting that curiosity seed is imperative. You cannot feel people’s energy, or share their laughter and hugs the same through an electronic device. Remember, if you feel stuck, go for a walk in your neighbourhood, or in nature. Even on the rainiest of days, you can still catch glimmers of goodness.
GOLDEN GLIMMERS
• Noticing birds and butterflies
• A stranger smiling at you
• Hearing laughter from afar
• The feeling of touching or stroking your pet
• Fresh air brushing against your skin
• The flicker and smell of a scented candle
• A hug from a friend
• The smell of fresh coffee
• Hearing your favourite song on the radio
• The aroma of fresh flowers
• Stars flickering at night
