On social media, mental health experts and advocates are posting about “Glimmers.” Videos show children picking flowers in a field, people enjoying a quiet cup of tea on their porches or swimming in a local lake, among other peaceful moments.
Simply put, glimmers are small moments that bring you joy. The term was coined by Deb Dana, a licensed clinical social worker in Maine whose work focuses on complex trauma. These posts are calming, beautiful, even awe-inspiring—but do they do anything besides look or sound pretty?
Glimmers is a micro-moment of safety, contact and supervision. It is the tiny moments of joy, the “safe and sound” that move us away from this challenging world, or our own unhandled wounds that help build subsequent capacity. Manage these other things in different ways.
In other words, light can help balance the bad side but should not be mixed with toxic positive substances. Society tends to see only a glimmer of hope, which is not the focus of the glimmers, not to calm the tough days, but to make them easier to manage.
Glimmers reminds us that our nervous system is surprisingly capable of enduring all the trauma, and watching for the tiny moments of joy, safety, connection, and any taste we want to talk about.
Here’s how to find your glimmers and how to handle them when you find them:
First, understand that glimmers are unique to you.
What is a glimmer for you may be a trigger for me. That doesn’t mean it’s right or wrong, it just means that’s how our nervous system is experiencing it at this time.
For example, someone might notice flashes of glimmers on the beach, while someone with a severe fear of the ocean might need to avoid the beach entirely. It doesn’t matter.
It’s up to the individual to decide what brings them a sense of awe or joy. And, once again, there is no wrong answer.
It shouldn’t be difficult to find your glimmers. These are the moments that stop you in your tracks and make you feel good, like the fall leaves on your walking route or the chirping of birds outside your kitchen window.
There are different types of glimmers. Think of a place you really enjoy, like a nearby riverfront, state park, museum, or walking trail, and head there to find your glimmers.
Some common examples are if you take a slow walk in nature you will see a very beautiful flower, birds chirping, you may notice a very small animal…if you walk through a city, You might make eye contact with someone, you might notice someone smiling at you, you might see a really cool piece of art.
If you see something that makes you stop and gives you a sense of awe, peace, or connection, then you’re likely seeing a glimmer.
Glimmers can help you regulate stress in your body.
Normally when we’re in doomscrolling, we’re disconnected from our bodies and a little numb. But glimmer is a great way to regain a sense of security in our bodies.
This is especially true for people with a history of trauma, depression, or anxiety, who may have a harder time feeling safe.
Looking for flashes of light is not only a great skill in the moment to remind us that we can regain a sense of calm, safety, and groundedness, but if we make it a regular practice, over time it can actually Improves our stress tolerance so over time we are triggered less often.
What’s more, you don’t have to experience trauma to benefit from Glimmer.
We all have challenging moments. All of us. Whether we want to call it trauma or we just want to call it a moment where we feel overwhelmed, we feel anxious, we feel angry, we feel alone, we all have those moments where we feel uncomfortable. And not being able to fully satisfy the moment of success or the way I wanted to.
These tough moments and shining moments go hand in hand. The world isn’t just glittering, nor is it full of challenges. It’s both.
If you can’t go out and find glimmers, that’s OK. There are other ways to evoke the feeling.
Getting out into nature or visiting your favorite museum is certainly part of the Glimmer experience, but you may not be able to turn these visits into a daily habit.To feel the calm that low light brings more often, take low-light photos.
Plus, this also allows you to brighten someone else’s day.
It’s also great to text glimmer photos to friends and share the beauty, share the joy.
To make glimmers even more impactful, find someone to talk about them with.
Encourage people to find a glimmer buddy and find a way to share your glitter.
It can be powerful to not only be aware of your own sparkles, but to share them with others to create a deeper connection with your loved ones.
One thing I think is powerful is knowing that I can see the light in others and understand them through their light. They don’t need to have the same glow as you to make that connection.
This is a simple way to start that feeling of acceptance and connection. Isn’t it lovely to start seeing the different ways it shapes our world?
That may be a high hope, but if we boil it down to the basic experience of feeling, seeing, stopping, appreciating, and sharing glimmers of light, it’s interesting to think about where it might take us.
To start finding your sparkle, Dana says to set a reasonable sparkle intention, something she often does with her clients.Set an intention that makes you feel spacious and welcoming.If it feels like a requirement, you’ll have a hard time following it.
Just tell yourself that you’re willing to look for sparkle today, and create a scene – such as a walk in a field or a visit to a gallery – that can make this happen.I think like any practice, it needs repetition so try to be gentle with yourself, and if you break the habit of looking for sparkles, you can always start over.
It’s never too late or too early to start this practice, which can be a powerful tool for connection, peace, and joy.Who doesn’t want more?