Glimmers: Small Moments That Tell Your Body You’re Safe
You know how certain things just set you off—a sharp tone of voice, an overwhelming email, a piece of bad news that sends your stomach into knots? Those are triggers.
But there’s another side to that coin—something that people are taking more and more about lately… and that’s Glimmers.
Glimmers are those micro-moments that bring a sense of ease, connection, or even just a quiet ahhh in your body. They’re real. And they matter.
What’s a Glimmer?
The term comes from therapist and author Deb Dana, who works with Polyvagal Theory. A glimmer is any small moment where your nervous system feels a sense of safety, connection, or regulation—even if it’s fleeting.
It might be:
Noticing how good the sun feels on your skin
The way your dog looks at you with complete trust
Catching the scent of something nostalgic
A kind text from a friend
Laughing (even for a second) when you didn’t think you could
Your system recognizes these as “I’m okay right now” moments—and they shift your state. Not because you’re faking positivity or ignoring what’s hard, but because your body knows how to orient toward safety when it’s given the chance.
Why Glimmers Are Worth Paying
Attention To
If you’ve been living in survival mode, navigating stress, burnout, trauma, anxiety, it makes total sense that your system is on high alert. But that’s not the only thing your nervous system is wired for.
Your body is also wired for connection, rest, curiosity, and pleasure. Glimmers help you remember.
When you start noticing glimmers:
You begin to shift from hypervigilance to grounded presence
You build capacity to hold more without getting overwhelmed
You teach your brain and body that safety is possible—even in small doses
You start to feel like yourself again
It doesn’t mean life stops being hard. It means you’re building a relationship with the parts of you that aren’t always in survival.
How to Work With Glimmers
This isn’t another thing to “do right” or add to your to-do list.
This is about noticing what’s already here. And letting it land.
Here’s how to start:
Slow down enough to notice.
Look around. What feels just a little bit soothing, interesting, or comforting? What makes you smile?Let your body take it in.
No need to analyze it. Just pause and feel. Is there a softening in your jaw? A deeper breath?Mark it.
You can say to yourself, “This is a glimmer.” Labeling it helps your system recognize and remember.Collect them.
Keep a “glimmer log” or just jot a quick note in your phone. You’ll start to notice patterns and see how your nervous system has favorite flavors of safety.
Some of My Own Glimmers (Lately)
Watching the hummingbirds at the feeder
The smell of coffee every morning.
Watching my dog be silly and a doofus
Unexpected music that makes me dance
Seeing the unexpected kindness of strangers when I look
I know these aren’t magic fixes, but they remind me I’m alive, and that I have a choice. They remind me that safety and goodness still exist—right alongside the hard stuff.
Try This: A Daily Glimmer Practice
At the end of your day (or anytime you remember), ask yourself:
“Did anything today feel even a little bit good?”
“Where did I feel most like myself?”
You might be surprised at what your body tells you.
Want More Tools Like This?
If this resonates, I share gentle practices, nervous system support, and somatic reflections each week in my newsletter. It’s low-pressure, heartfelt, and real—just like these glimmers.
You deserve moments that help you breathe deeper. Let’s build from there.
Wishing you goodness and glimmers today, and everyday.
XOC
