A Glimmer Experience
A glimmer is the exact opposite of a trigger — it is a kind of cue, either internal or external that brings one back to a sense of joy or safety
Theodora Blanchfield
This morning I witnessed a marriage proposal. It was a magical moment I stumbled upon when I was out walking. I so easily could have missed it, had I woken at a different time, left the house at a different time, not walked all the way to the top of the hill, not paused a few minutes before walking back down.
This got me thinking of the concept of glimmers, which are the opposite to a trigger; “a micro moment of happiness, a little piece of awe, something that makes you feel hope”.[1]
Such a miraculous sequence leading to the opportunity to bear witness to a declaration of love. My glimmer was the moment I realised what I was witnessing, and my awareness and attention changed in that instant of realisation.
We don’t need to wait for a glimmer to appear though, we can welcome one in. Try this simple mindfulness exercise to invite a glimmer.
Close your eyes and take three deep slow breaths.
Open your eyes, allow your attention to be caught by something.
Focus your attention on that thing, observe it, notice everything you can about it. Let all else fall away. Maintain this focus for a couple of minutes or so.
This is partly an exercise in spatial perception which is a right brain process. The left brain is associated with rational and linear processes and it is where we spend most of our time. The right brain is associated with the intuitive and creative, allowing for a new way of seeing or experiencing outside of our regular way of thinking.
See if you can catch a glimmer of your own today.
