On glimmers

Seek out small things that bring you joy

[Image description: a mindmap of glimmers that provides example benefits of seeking out glimmers. Image source: innerglowtherapy]

A couple of weeks back, the concept of ‘glimmers’ made the rounds on LinkedIn. The antonym of triggers, glimmers, are micro moments of feeling safe and connected experienced as a result of noticing tiny positive events in our environment. Glimmers tend to be primarily sensory in nature and can include:

• Satisfying sounds, like birds chirping, a lid clicking shut, or music you enjoy

• Enjoyable smells, like cut grass, coffee or a bakery

• Sights you love, like art, a beautiful building or people you care about smiling

• Calming touch, like cuddling a furry friend or wearing comfy slippers

• Delicious tastes, like chocolate or cheese, or something like chewable jewellery

Other types of glimmers (or are they stims?)

I was having a little ponder on glimmers for this article and I figured they could be more than sensory. As a cerebral person, I feel micro-moments of feeling safe and connected when I seek out cognitive moments of joy, for example:

• Solving puzzles, like a crossword or a jigsaw

• Researching a special interest/ hyperfixation

• Planning something you’re looking forward to

Other, more emotionally-oriented folk will be drawn to glimmers that are emotional in nature, such as:

• Watching a familiar happy film, especially helpful when you’re feeling overwhelmed with the uncertainty of the world

• Reaching out to a friend just to hear their voice

• Listening to a song, not because of its sensory affect, but to trigger a particular emotion or state of mind you want to experience

Strictly speaking these are arguably stims (see my previous article on the topic) rather than glimmers. Stims are self-soothing activities we generate ourselves, as opposed to glimmers, which exist in the outside world.

However, what glimmers and stims (or ‘glims’ as I shall call them from now on) have in common is that they require us to seek them out and pay attention to them in order for them to calm us and boost our sense of wellbeing.

Having a range of known glims at our disposal is helpful in both preventing and reducing the impact of triggers (which, unlike glimmers and stims, tend to spring upon us with little to no warning) and generally any aspect of life that we find stressful and draining.

What are your glims? What do you love in the outside world and what things do you do yourself that calm your nervous system and keep survival mode at bay? The more we know them and the more we utilise them, the calmer and happier we will be.