Glimmers: the key to feeling great
What is a glimmer?
…And why can it help you to feel more joy
Positive triggers of joy
It is not just a tiktok frenzy there is science behind a glimmer.
In short, a glimmer is the opposite of a trigger.
A glimmer is an experience that could be big or small, could be internal or external that gives us a feeling of safety, happiness and joy. And we sure need that in the world we operate.
Glimmers are really important ways for us to regulate our emotions and the impacts they can have on our whole nervous systems.
We know that stress is not good for us and often we spend time thinking about how to manage our responses to external and internal triggers, but Glimmers offer us a more proactive and positive way to calm our body and brain. (Read to the end to learn about the science bit)
Here are some examples of Glimmers that I have noticed recently:
The feel of waves lapping over my feet
The smell of dune roses
Watching my children run out in the rain storm - maybe I should have joined them!
Smell of my room fragrance as I walked into my office today
The smell of my parents house
Laughing with friends
The perfect cup of coffee
The cool breeze after a hot week
Just take a moment to notice the triggers that give your body and mind the feeling of happiness, joy and safety.
Now make your Glimmers work for you!
The power of knowing and using Glimmers
Just as with triggers, consciousness is just the first step.
Soak it in- Spend time thinking about and tapping into the body and brain experience we get with our perfect hot drink, do it mindfully, be fully present to the experience and notice the impact on your breathing, your smile, your belly your thoughts. This is your rest and digest state.
Put it to work- When you feel yourself being triggered and your body and brain moves to fight or flight you are going to invite those Glimmers in. Invite them in and let them fill you up with their positivity
Doing this more can help to rewire the system and reshape our wellbeing and health. So win-win!
The science bit!
Behavioural neuroscientist Stephen Porges introduced Polyvagal theory in 1995 which is all about how the Autonomic nervous system (which handles stuff we don’t even realise we are doing, like breathing) is searching our environment for anything that is dangerous for us. This happens via the Vagus nerve which goes beyond the brain this is a whole body experience. The term glimmer, was introduced in 2018 in the book The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy: Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation by licensed clinical social worker Deb Dana and then hit tiktok via Dr. Justine Grosso.
"You feel something happen inside," Dana says. "There's an energy that happens around a glimmer, and then your brain then marks it as well."
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