‘Glimmers’ are the opposite of triggers. Here’s how to embrace them.

• “Triggers” are widely understood, but few people know about their opposite: glimmers.
• Glimmers are small moments that spark joy or peace, which can help cue our nervous system to feel safe or calm.
• Experts say this mindset shift can make a positive impact on our mental health.

“Trigger” has become a commonplace term in our cultural lexicon, but few people know about the opposite of triggers: glimmers. 

Coined by Deb Dana, a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in complex trauma, in her 2018 book “The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy,” the term refers to small moments when our biology is in a place of connection or regulation, which cues our nervous system to feel safe or calm.

“We’re not talking great, big, expansive experiences of joy or safety or connection. These are micro moments that begin to shape our system in very gentle ways,” she explains.

And the concept has taken hold. On TikTok, for example, one video about glimmers has gained more than 78,000 likes and hundreds of comments expressing appreciation for the idea of embracing glimmers

“I love this … and (I’m going to) hold on tight to it,” one user commented. “Ohhhh this is my new favorite thing ever,” another wrote.

So, what is a glimmer?

Glimmers aren’t just tiny moments that bring joy or happiness, they can also spark ease, relaxation, safety, connection or a feeling that the world is OK even for a fleeting moment.

Glimmers can be found in different places and senses. Some examples include: 

• In nature, admiring your garden or seeing the stars in the sky.
• Other people find glimmers by noticing a stranger’s smile or the warmth of a loved one’s voice
• Some find glimmers with their pets, feeling comforted by furry friends
• And in music, such as with unexpected church bells or your favorite song playing on the radio

“You feel something happen inside. There’s an energy that happens around a glimmer, and then your brain then marks it as well,” Dana adds.

Who can benefit from glimmers?

Noticing glimmers can be beneficial for everyone but is especially helpful for people who have experienced trauma.

“The thing I love about glimmers is that, working with trauma survivors, it’s so respectful of their suffering,” Dana says. “It allows them to understand that their biology is wired in a way that, we don’t discount the trauma or the crisis or the ongoing suffering, but we recognize that their biology is exquisitely set up to be able to also notice the micro moments of goodness.”

Our brains have a natural tendency to look for the bad, says Amy Morin, a licensed clinical social worker and editor-in-chief of Verywell Mind.

“Being on the lookout for danger can help us stay physically safe. But since we are no longer lurking in the forest hiding from hungry animals, we don’t need to focus on the negative quite so much to stay physically safe,” she says.

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