“Glimmers” Can Make You Happier — And They’re Closer Than You Think

Dubbed as the opposite of triggers, “glimmers” are the tiny micro-moments of joy you encounter in day-to-day life. Even if brief, they allow for a moment of peace, a sliver of calm amidst the storm of life. While the glimmer may be fleeting, a new one is always closer than you think. They’re the book you pre-ordered finally arriving, or your favorite cafe making the perfect açaí bowl.

You may be wondering why the F you should care about "glimmers." Which is a fair first reaction, I might add. Consider this: You're having a pretty awful day. It's raining and all-around muggy. You woke up just late enough that your kids miss the bus, meaning you have to drive them to school, which is a whole 20 minutes out of your way from work. Sounds rough, right? But once you get to work, you realize your coworker brought in donuts. And your neighbor just texted you to say that they can pick up your kids from school, so there's no need to worry about rushing home. And you just got an out-of-the-blue text from an old friend. All of the sudden, your day doesn't feel that bad after all. And you mentally feel better, too.

Oh and fun fact: These small moments of joy may sound trivial, but they play an active role in calming down our central nervous system, thus improving our mental health. Pretty cool, right?!

Point is, we all have our thing — and when it comes to glimmers, there’s no right or wrong type.

If you’re having trouble coming up with your glimmers, remember that they’re all around us. They’re the freshly painted street lines, an insanely delicious strawberry, the smell of a marsh (New England gals know). Be aware, be patient, and better yet, be open. Open yourself to the experience of finding one and feeling one — whatever it's going to be. You might be surprised at what you find.