Why we need Glimmers and Glows – Dandelion Training & Development

Glimmers have become more popular over the last few years, and we often see social media posts talking about them. So, what is a glimmer and a glow?

Glimmers

Glimmers are micro-moments of pleasure that we experience in the day. These small moments, when we give them attention, provide us with calm, peace and connection. They are those tiny things that give you a feel good moment, and elevate our mood. When we pay glimmers attention these micro-moments activate our parasympathetic nervous system, which is focused on rest and digestion. In order to be able to register a glimmer we take just long enough to acknowledge it which activates the vagus nerve. Taking time to focus on these micro-moments creates ‘Glimmer Days’. The more we focus on looking for glimmers the more we attune our bodies to them. Research indicates that the action of focusing on glimmers can counteract stress and enhance mental health, providing us with focus on more positive experiences.

Think about moments such as:

The feeling of sunshine pouring through the window in the morning
The enjoyment of your favourite song on the radio
Watching a child find joy in the small things
The smell of fresh bread in a bakery
The sound of the sea
A hug from someone you love
Seeing a dog enjoying playing with their ball

How do we use them?

Set an intention to notice more glimmers
Notice how you feel, when you experience a glimmer
When you notice a glimmer, focus on it and acknowledge it

Glows

Glows are glimmers which have been given focused attention. Glimmers can be extended to glows by taking the time to stop and celebrate the glimmer allowing our nervous system to give it deeper meaning. By stopping and letting the experience fill the soul for at least 30 seconds or more, we can upgrade a glimmer to a glow. When we take time to describe what the feeling is, we might notice that a glimmer may feel like a spark of happiness, whilst a glow may feel like basking in the sun.

How to create them:

Notice the glimmer and stop and acknowledge it for at least 30 seconds
Give the glimmer time to glow
Notice what happens inside your body during the glow
Listen to what your body tells you as the glow grows
How would you describe the glow?

Want to learn more?

If you want to learn more about mental health you can join our Level 4 training (here) or keep an eye out for our new specialist online courses coming soon (here).

Further help

For more articles about mental health visit – ARTICLES

To learn more about child and adolescent mental health visit – COURSES

For resources to support child and adolescent mental health visit –RESOURCES