Glimmers: How Tiny Moments Calm Your Nervous System and Boost Healing
Because healing doesn’t always look like a breakthrough—it’s often in the little things.
Lately, I’ve been paying more attention to glimmers.
You know, those small, fleeting moments that remind your nervous system it’s safe to exhale.
The opposite of triggers, glimmers are the subtle signs that something is good, comforting, or just right—even if only for a second.
Maybe it’s:
✨ The sound of your baby’s laugh
✨ The way sunlight hits your kitchen table during naptime
✨ A favorite song coming on when you're feeling overwhelmed
✨ Finally drinking your coffee while it's still hot
In therapy speak, glimmers are cues of safety—little signals that activate the parasympathetic nervous system, helping us feel grounded, connected, and calm.
In everyday life, they’re those tiny moments that catch you by surprise and whisper:
"I’m okay. This is okay."
As a therapist and a mom, I’ve learned that finding these glimmers isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.
Especially in the chaos of early motherhood—or the pressure of balancing a million things—it’s easy to get swept into survival mode.
Glimmers help pull us back.
They’re the micro-moments of nervous system regulation we don’t always realize we need.
And the beautiful part?
You don’t have to chase them.
Glimmers are already around you.
The trick is learning to notice them—to train your brain, little by little, to spot what feels good.
A Few of My Recent Glimmers
A deep breath while baby naps on my chest
Catching a sunset through the rearview mirror
A stranger offering a knowing smile as I bounced through Target with my baby strapped to me like a tiny koala
That first exhale in child’s pose after a long day
My dog curling up next to me just when I needed a little comfort
The baby and dog napping side by side—pure peace in one blurry moment
Locking eyes with my husband across the room when the baby does something feral, like a mini telepathic “Welp”
Hearing “you’re doing a good job” when I didn’t even ask
Rooted Takeaway
Start small.
Take just one minute a day to notice a glimmer—something that made you feel warm, calm, or connected. Write it down if you can.
The more you practice noticing them, the easier it becomes.
And soon, even on hard days, you’ll find your nervous system reaching for peace instead of panic.
📌 Save this post for the days you need a reminder to look for the light.
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