606-Utilizing Glimmers for Happiness

Did you know there is a counterpart to a trigger? It is called a Glimmer, and you can utilize it to increase your happiness. Check out our latest podcast episode to learn how they work!

 

Transcript:

 

Welcome to Everyday Happiness where we create lasting happiness, in about 2 minutes a day,  through my signature method of Intentional Margins® (creating harmony between your to-dos and your priorities), happiness science, and musings about life. 

 

I'm your host Katie Jefcoat, and have you heard of “triggers?” This now popular word is used to describe an internal or external cue that the brain associates with past trauma. This signal can send our sympathetic nervous system into a frenzy, forcing a negative physical, emotional, and mental response. Altogether, really not that fun. I recently learned that there is a flip side to this coin called a Glimmer.

A Glimmer is a cue that brings us back to a sense of joy of safety. The term itself was introduced in 2018 in The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy: Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation by licensed clinical social worker Deb Dana. However, it became a popular term thanks to TikTok last year.

The neat thing about Glimmers is that they are different for everyone. Essentially, a Glimmer activates the ventral vagal state, which in turn activates the parasympathetic nervous system, I.E., the rest-and-digest part of the body. A Glimmer is the warm and fuzzy feelings we get in response to some of our favorite things.

For example, some of my Glimmers include:

• A tight hug from my husband
• The perfect cup of coffee in the morning
• Looking at a beautiful flower
• The smell of baking chocolate chip cookies
• Seeing a random act of kindness
• Christmas jammies, Christmas movies and all things Christmas cheer
• My favorite song on the radio
• Watching my kids thrive at something they love

If you want to find your Glimmers, I encourage you to find a moment when you are at peace to close your eyes and think of when you felt safe and cared for. It could be a person, place, or thing, or something that hits the senses: sound, smell, sight, feel, or taste. There is no one or correct answer. If it makes you feel safe and happy, that’s one of your Glimmers. Do you know what your Glimmers are? Please share them in the comments with me! 

 

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Inspired by this article in Very Well Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-glimmer-5323168