GLIMMERS

One of my intentions for 2026 is to be more aware of glimmers. If you don’t know what a glimmer is, I think of it as the opposite of a trigger. Most of us know what a trigger is. It can be internal, such as a thought or a feeling, or external such as a sight, a sound, or even a smell that cause a strong emotional or physical reaction. A trigger can set off a cascade of negative emotions such as anxiety and depression. But a glimmer, oh a glimmer.  Glimmers are tiny micro moments of joy and they can be found everywhere. You don’t even need to leave you house if you start to look for them. They are everyday experiences that we often take for granted. When you take a moment to enjoy a sunset, or appreciate the laughter of a grandchild, you are having a glimmer moment. Unlike triggers, when we focus on God’s good gifts to us, even the small ones, we experience gratitude and well-being, and improved mental health. Glimmers create happiness by calming the nervous system, increasing neuroplasticity, and help to build positive mental health.

A few evenings ago, we experienced the first super moon of the year, called the wolf moon for the howling winter wolves (although in Tulsa, Oklahoma we haven’t had much winter). We had gone out to dinner, and since I cannot see a moonrise or a sunrise from my yard due to all the trees, I planned to look for it while we were out. The wolf moon did not disappoint. Oh my goodness! It was a big orange ball rising over the horizon. If you Google it, you can see some spectacular shots taken all over the world. Since we were in a busy commercial area, I wondered how many people even noticed. God went to all the trouble to put this beautiful object in the sky for us to enjoy, but I am thinking most of us didn’t stop to appreciate it. That was a spectacular glimmer!

But there are smaller ones every day. A text from a friend, the snores of a sleeping dog beside me, the quiet joy of being in a warm house with my needs met. God says, “Be still and know that I am God,” (Psalm 46:10). To get the full benefit of a glimmer, we need to take a few seconds to savor it, to allow the feeling to take root. I am encouraging my clients to keep a glimmer journal, and I am going to do likewise. I bought a set of small journals form Archer & Olive, perfect for carrying with me. I am going to train my brain to look for glimmers, to be aware of God’s good gifts to me. I think it will be fun to look back over my glimmer journal at the end of the year and take inventory of my blessings.

Author: Fran Carona, Ph.D.

I am a wife, mother, grandmother, and licensed clinical psychologist. View all posts by Fran Carona, Ph.D.