First, it was manifesting. Then came the summer of Lucky Girl Syndrome. Now we wanna introduce you to glimmers.
Glimmers are moments that arouse joy and peace. They’re commonly described as flickers of calm and comfort bringing a beacon of hope to soothe our nervous system which is essential to our mental well-being.
Here’s everything we know about glimmers:
Dubbed the opposite of triggers, Deb Dana, LCSW, a psychotherapist and author, coined the term “glimmers,” and says that they’re the tiny micro-moments of joy that allow us to feel calm and give us a sense of inner peace. While the word glimmer (which quite literally refers to a faint or wavering light) insinuates a sort of fleeting, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it kind of moment, in reality, glimmers are all around us. They’re the book you pre-ordered finally arriving, or your favorite cafe making the perfect açaí bowl. And, while brief, these tiny moments of joy can fuse to create something much more significant.
On the surface, glimmers may sound trivial, but they have value to our health. Deb’s work explains how crucial these micro-moments are to calming down our central nervous system, and thus improving our mental health. “Our nervous system is where all of our experience begins, it’s where our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, body responses — everything — starts, and glimmers emerge from the nervous system state of what’s called ventral,” Dana explains to Refinery29. “It’s a state of regulation, safety, and connection.” This regulation can ultimately make you feel lighter and brighter — and a lot less triggered.
As do so many things, glimmers have taken off on TikTok, where the term has over 6.1 million views. Creators have been sharing their positive moments, and many note that the practice of looking for glimmers helps them feel a whole lot better.
Glimmers can come together to reframe the way we move through our lives to be more positive. Which is pretty dang cool if you ask us. At this point, you’re probably wondering where you should even start in this world full of glimmers. How do you make them work for you? Can they improve your mental health?
How can we experience glimmers?
You already know what glimmers are, so you’re already a step ahead of the game. Now that you know what glimmers are, it’s time to recognize them, whether they are predictable or unpredictable moments. And be well aware — they’re not all the same. Chances are, your glimmers may be completely different from ours. Even our team members have a variety of different ones: Chloe feels it when she hears a song she loves on the radio. Meredith feels it when people smile back at her in public. Jasmine feels it when it’s raining and her coffee is *just* the right temperature. Ali feels it with the first bite of dessert. Nicole feels it when the sun warms her face. Lee feels it when she lays on the beach with a good poem and takes a quick dip in the ocean.
The point is, we all have our thing — and when it comes to glimmers, there’s no right or wrong type.
If you’re having trouble coming up with your glimmers, remember that they’re all around us. They’re the freshly painted street lines, an insanely delicious mango, a hug from a loved one, and the smell of your favorite childhood cookies. Be aware, be patient, and better yet, be open. Be open to the experience of seeing one, finding one, and feeling one — whatever it’s going to be. You might be surprised at what you find.
Just because a glimmer is a flicker, that doesn’t mean the feeling has to be fleeting. Glimmers are sustainable, but they do require consistency and effort. Sustaining a glimmer simply means committing to daily practices that bring you joy and choosing to focus (more often than not) on the feelings we derive from the glimmers. What we focus on, grows, and focusing on glimmers allows them to grow.
There’s no filter required in this recipe for zen.
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