Chasing Glimmers (of Hope) in a lonely world

The Mindfulness Art of Chasing Glimmers

Chasing Glimmers…. most of us do it without recognizing it as an art of mindfulness. When we add in the practice of mindfulness to looking at glimmers we create the opportunity to slow down, calm down, and reset our nervous system–even if for only a moment. With enough practice, though, we can carry that calmness with us as we move through our day. If necessary we can even take a couple of minutes to find a new glimmer before continuing on with the day.

The What, where, when and how of Chasing Glimmers

Most of us know the phrase “glimmer of hope”?  But what is a Glimmer? Glimmers are little tiny individualized moments of joy in which we experience peace, serenity, gratitude and happiness.  Sometimes, for me, they are tiny moments upon which I can reflect and experience a deep mindfulness. In those moments I experience the most profound feelings that I can hardly put into words. 

The Science of the Shift

While we often think of these moments as purely emotional, a glimmer is actually a physiological “message” to your nervous system. In the world of polyvagal theory, glimmers move us into what is called the Ventral Vagal state. This is the state of “safety and connection.” When you catch a glimmer, your heart rate slows, your muscles soften, and for a brief moment, your brain stops scanning for threats. It is the body’s way of whispering, “You are okay, right here, right now.”

The Personal Fingerprint of a Glimmer

What makes a glimmer so beautiful is that it is entirely individualized. My glimmer might be the sharp, clean scent of pine on a mountain trail, while yours might be the specific way the light hits a well-worn book on your nightstand. They are like “micro-joy” fingerprints. They don’t have to be grand or expensive; in fact, the most powerful glimmers are often the ones that cost nothing and require no travel—they are simply waiting for you to notice them in the quiet corners of your home.

The “Opposite of a Trigger”

We have all become experts at identifying our triggers—those moments that send our hearts racing and our minds into a spiral. Triggers are the “red alerts” of our lives. Glimmers, however, are the “green lights.” If a trigger is a withdrawal from your emotional bank account, a glimmer is a small, vital deposit. By learning to “chase” them, we aren’t ignoring the pain of our reality; we are simply ensuring we have the internal resources to survive it.

Finding Glimmers in the Everyday

When are those moments? For me, sometimes it’s at the peak of a 4000 footer in New Hampshire, taking in the 360 degree view.  I have done many peaks now and one thing I have noticed is that when people are hiking, whether hiking solo or with others, when they reach the summit most people stop and sit in silence for some length of time.  It is in that moment that people are experiencing a glimmer. They are experiencing that profound sense of peace, serenity, gratitude and happiness.

Do you need to climb a mountain to find a glimmer? Of course not. It happens when I look out over the ocean and catch the most amazing sunset and I think to myself “life might be tough but I am so lucky to see this beautiful sunset” 

Or when I am outside on a cold winter’s night letting the dogs out and I gaze upon the snow crystals glistening in the moonlight. 

Or as I am bringing the groceries in from the car during a thunderstorm and stop to watch the dark clouds moving in.

Or admiring the fronds of the ferns unfurling in the warm spring rains as I am walking the dogs.

Or enjoying that first sip of coffee every morning.

Still confused about what a glimmer is? Think of glimmers as the opposite of triggers. Where triggers create negative feelings and set the stage for unhappiness, glimmers are positive and set the stage for happiness. They create a pathway for signaling to the nervous system to relax and, in doing so, to ease the mind. The practice of seeing glimmers is also a practice of mindfulness.

The opportunities to find glimmers are all around us. You just need to know how to see them; and once you know how to see them there is no end to seeing them. All you need to do is stop for any length of time, take deep cleansing breaths and really look at the glimmer, see it, feel it, embrace whatever that glimmer is and make that connection to it. Store it into your heart’s mind and keep it with you as you navigate through the toughest of your days. When you find yourself in the thralls of a dark day and feel hopeless, start with small steps to change your mindset. For me it’s cleaning, showering, starting a project or showering. Once I have done that it opens the way for me to see things differently, to open my mind to allowing myself to look for glimmers.

Will these glimmers prevent you or your world from falling apart? No, but they will offer you that vital glimmer of hope without which life would be a bleak and scary place with no hope. A life with no hope is a life of despair. Granted, the harder the life the more difficult the practice, but in the end I would imagine the more rewarding it is. 

Now what? Get out there and practice the mindfulness art of chasing glimmers! Set goals for yourself to try it a couple times a day, even if it’s just for a minute or two. Maybe even consider starting a journal dedicated to glimmers and gratitude! This is your life and you need to do what you can to help yourself even if it is the smallest of steps. Any step in the right direction is a step forward.

Your Daily Glimmer Checklist

If you are feeling overwhelmed or stuck in a cycle of triggers, try to check off just two of these today: