Glimmers and Nervous System Regulation

Glimmers are a wonderful way to open yourself to hope, to positivity and to

calm your nervous system and allow your bodies nervous system to be regulated.

Glimmers are a cue in the day, either internal or external, that sparks a sense of

wellbeing, a feeling in your body. These tiny moments gently yet significantly

shape your system toward well-being. They help you become regulated and

ready for connection.

Glimmers can be found in everyday life by anyone, yet frequently go unnoticed.

They are easily overlooked because, to help you survive, the human brain is

wired to pay more attention to negative events than positive ones.

Glimmers could be a beautiful tree you notice, the smile on someone's face,

a colourful sunset, seeing a robin in the garden, getting into a clean bed with

your favorite book, a warm bath when you are tired, that first sip of a hot drink

after being in the cold.

Glimmers are not a form of toxic positivity, that don't discount your suffering

but what they do do is remind your nervous system that it can hold dysregulation

and regulation. Some days can be filled with difficulty, and you can also feel a

spark of safety, regulation, and connection just by allowing yourself to have the

awareness to notice them.

The power of Glimmers is that they are not a one and done experience. They

accumulate and move you along the path toward physical and psychological

wellbeing. You feel something shift. You feel a tiny change in your body.

You notice a thought that holds a hint of hope. Your nervous system gathers

glimmers, adding them up one by one until something in your world feels just a

bit different.

Finding Glimmers Practice

A grounded practice that was shared by the wonderful Deb Dana for the

Rhythm of Regulation.

See: What happens in your body that lets you know you are in a
glimmer moment?

What do you do when you feel that spark of energy? What thoughts arise?

Stop: Now that you know the cues, use them to notice glimmers as you
move through
your day. Glimmers happen regularly, but because they are micro-moments
you need to be on the lookout for them.
Appreciate: Notice all the different feelings your glimmers bring. Spend
several seconds in appreciation letting the glimmer land in your system.
Remember: Find ways to keep track of your glimmers and keep a library
of glimmers.
Share: Share your glimmers with a friend and spark their glimmer journey
and one by one each person gets the benefit of the glimmer journey.

With this simple but powerful practice a tiny glimmer can build the foundation

for powerful change. Share this with the people around you and notice how

many moments you create and build on each day. Watch how this can change

lives and our emotional and physical wellbeing.

Where your attention goes, neural firing flows, and neural connection grows

- Daniel J.Siegel