Know your glimmers and triggers

Self Care
July 27, 2024

The idea of glimmers comes from the wonderful Deb Dana who I was lucky enough to meet last year.

Glimmers are cues of safety for us and the opposite of triggers, which are cues of danger. Glimmers are sparks of joy that bring us moments of positivity, safety, or connection. Micro-moments that we can intentionally look for through the day to keep us calm.

A glimmer could be a sunset, stroking a dog, your favourite place int he world, or they can even be that friend who makes you feel alive and so at ease. Glimmers put us in an anchored state, so we feel at home in our bodies and can thrive. Glimmers help us feel seen, heard, understood and validated, from which we can connect with others empathetically.

Triggers are evoked through our sense: sight, sound, touch and smell. Our level of response is in direct correlation to the emotional impact of that sight, sound, touch and smell. It might be a friend who puts your down, or drains the energy from you, or a job that has been getting you down and bringing you little happiness in life.

My advice to you is to try and identify what your triggers might be in life, or who they might be? As identifying them can be equally as important as finding your glimmers in life. I am not suggesting you make any rash decisions about that person, or aspect of your life, but it is good to recognise what might be bringing you down, so you can have a long hard think about whether it is worth keeping that trigger in your life?

Remember, life is a cup to be filled, not one to be drained.

Julia