Glimmers, a term first brought about by clinical social worker Deb Dana, are instances of joy, peace and contentment that are identified by your senses that bring a calming feeling of groundedness and gratitude. They are found amongst everyday life activities and experiences and can be profoundly moving and can also be small instances that comfort your thoughts and feelings making you feel safe and peaceful.

I learned about glimmers in a women’s self-development course I attended recently and have been putting this form of gratitude and mindfulness into practice ever since.  Some days it feels like the glimmers are being elusive and need a lot of brain power to find, but they are always there! I identify many glimmers when I ‘turn off’ my critical and analysing mind and just set out to enjoy whatever it is I am doing. It’s a sort of meditative behaviour.

The practice of purposely looking for glimmers in your day will allow calmness to come to the forefront in your activities. Your nervous system will be able to find comfort and peace, and regulate to deal with everyday life and it’s ups and downs. Another benefit of looking for and recognising glimmers is to encourage your creative skills to open, be present and expand. A creative dream state, if you will, that has opportunity for ideas to show up, develop and explore the ‘what if’s’ that might lead to great art and artistic growth.

I often find my glimmers in nature, and here are some of my favourites :

• walking the dogs and looking for nature’s offerings of spotty or unusual shaped leaves, or admiring the way nature is flexible to fit climate, growing conditions and environment. Deep shade and cool under the canopy of trees and the spread of living ‘roofs’ that give shelter to birds and humans alike in the heat of the day.
• watching the wind in the trees, the colours of seasonal flowers and branches where the sunlight dapples through to illuminate the shapes of intersecting branches. A beautiful sunrise over the ocean or mountains. The amazing colours of a cloud spotted sunset.
• smelling baking bread, brewing coffee or crushed mint, the perfume of my roses. The smell fresh rain makes on dry dusty earth. Early morning breakfast cooking smells. Ocean and tidal brine smells that let you know that the tide will be exposing then rinsing rock pools full of real and imaginary creatures.
• hearing bird calls and learning which bird makes those particular noises. The noise of cicadas on a hot day, the splash of a pool or the soft and also thunderous noise waves make as they meet the sea shore.

 

Cruising around on Instagram I found this explanation and encouragement by @SarahJacksonCoaching.

What you should know about GLIMMERS:

• Glimmers are the opposite of triggers
• They are small moments of goodness or beauty that regulate our nervous systems
• They cue safety to the survival brain
• They instill peace and evoke joy
• They can be internal or external
• They improve mood and mental health
• They help build nervous system resilience
• They are a trauma-recovery resource
• Each day brings with it hundreds of glimmers
• Noticing glimmers is a powerful healing practice that adds up over time
• Becoming a glimmer-seeker will change your brain and life

Look up at the inter-twined branches, the bark, the spaces between the branches that allow small spots of light to penetrate the tree canopy showing little glimpses of the clouds and sky. Look at the way the tree has grown and the direction and curves of its growth. What do you think the birds see? All those different shades of green and the markings on the branches.

Try and make every day a glimmer day and record it in your calendar or diary. If you have down days, or days when it seems sadness rules, then drag out your glimmer records and remind yourself of the peace and calm that you have felt in the past.

I have included a free Glimmers Calendar to record your very own glimmers. It’s a bit similar to a day-to-day gratitude diary, and you can look back for artistic inspiration from your glimmers if you wish to print it out to keep.

You can find your FREE download of the Glimmers Calender under USEFUL in the Shop Category! Thank you for viewing.