Introduction
Much of our personal growth work revolves around triggers—moments that catapult us back into old pain, activating fight‑or‑flight responses. Yet few of us pay attention to glimmers, those small, often overlooked moments that gently awaken feelings of safety, joy and calm. Understanding both can reshape how you navigate your emotional landscape.
What Are Triggers?
- Definition: Stimuli (words, smells, memories) that reactivate unresolved trauma or fear.
- Effects: Triggers evoke tension, defensiveness and a sense of danger. They can hijack your nervous system and lead to overreactions or shutdown.
- Healing: Recognising triggers is the first step. Practices like breathwork, grounding and therapy help you respond rather than react.
What Are Glimmers?
- Definition: Tiny moments that evoke feelings of safety, warmth and connection—a smile from a stranger, sunlight on your skin, a favourite song.
- Effects: Glimmers relax the nervous system and expand your capacity for joy. They are micro-medicines that help regulate emotions and build resilience.
- Cultivation: Savor pleasant sensations, practise gratitude and intentionally seek out beauty in everyday life. Keeping a glimmer journal can attune you to these subtle gifts.
Why Both Matter
- Balance: Focusing solely on triggers can keep you stuck in trauma loops. Inviting glimmers rewires your brain toward safety and positivity.
- Nervous system health: Alternating between sympathetic activation (triggered) and parasympathetic relaxation (glimmer) builds flexibility and resilience.
- Mindful awareness: Noticing both encourages presence. When you can witness your reactions, you can choose your response.
Conclusion
Life is a tapestry woven with both painful triggers and tender glimmers. By learning to acknowledge and heal your triggers while actively seeking out glimmers, you recalibrate your nervous system for greater peace and joy. Start noticing the micro‑moments of beauty around you today; they may be the medicine your heart has been waiting for.
