Everything in the world has its opposite and so do stress triggers. If something can momentarily throw us out of sync, then there must also be something that can momentarily calm us down. According to this philosophy, 'glimmers' stand opposite 'triggers' (stress triggers).
Glimmers direct our attention to something beautiful, to joy, calm and pleasant, positive feelings that improve our mood, it says HuffPost.
She coined the term associated with mental health, which has taken TikTok by storm clinical social worker Deb Dana whose work is focused on complex trauma. Video posts of children picking flowers in a field, people sipping a quiet cup of tea or swimming in a local lake are soothing and beautiful, but do they do anything but look or sound pretty?
"Glimpses are those little moments of safety, connection, regulation. Tiny moments of joy that keep us from getting stuck in this challenging world we're in, or keep us from our own trauma. They help us build our ability to manage stress in a different way. way," Dana told HuffPost.
In other words, sparkles are there to balance out stress, but not to be confused with toxic positivity. Toxic positive people believe that all people should view their experiences positively, even those that are profoundly tragic. Not only can such an attitude in them create a false image that they are able to cope with all adversity, with the practical suppression of difficult emotions and "pushing them under the carpet", but over time, with pronounced passive aggressiveness, they also have the need to convince others that it is the only correct way of thinking.
The point of 'sparkling' is not to dampen the hard days, but to make them more bearable.
"The reflections are a reminder that our nervous system is so incredibly capable of containing and enduring all the trauma … with little moments of joy, safety and connection," says Dana.
Reflections are unique to each of us
What is a 'glimmer' for someone, can be a 'trigger' for another. Simply, our nervous systems perceive the same moments differently, explains Dana.
He also agrees with her psychologist Justine Grosso.
"Everyone needs to find what calms them down. For someone, it will be a really beautiful flower, a walk in nature, the chirping of birds... Others will be cheered up by a new work of art, coffee in a quiet place or swimming in a nearby lake. Still others will notice if someone smile as they walk through the city… If you see something that grabs your attention, makes you pause, and gives you a sense of calm or connection, you're probably looking at your glimmer," Grosso points out.
Glares are stress controllers
When we are in an emotional slump, we often become numb. 'Sparkles' are a really beautiful way to reconnect with the sense of safety in our bodies. That's especially true for people with a history of trauma, depression or anxiety, who find it harder to feel safe, Grosso says.
We all have challenging moments. All of us. Finding glimmers of light is not only a nice skill that instantly reminds us that we can reconnect with a sense of calm, safety, and grounding, but if it becomes a regular practice over time, it can actually increase our ability to manage stress, Grosso adds.
Photos can also be powerful 'reflections'. Rarely does anything bring a smile to your face as quickly as a reminder of dear people and happy moments, reports the Ordinacija.
If we reduce everything to the basic experience of feeling, seeing, experiencing, appreciating and sharing the sparkle, it is interesting to think about where it could take us, says Dana.
"I think like any exercise, it takes repetition... Just be gentle with yourself. If you don't find your 'sparkle' moments right away, you can always start over," says Grosso.
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