Glimmers and childlessness

Presenter and co-founder Sarah is a trauma counsellor and runs our Wellbeing space in our online community, which provides weekly check-ins with our members comprising videos, worksheets or conversations designed to take us through a well-being pathway.

Glimmers are the opposite of triggers. Rather than hitting into our grief and pain, they are restorative and build resilience. By this, I mean that they provide feelings of safety and security and open us to feelings of contentment, joy and peace, which in turn helps us build resilience.

Much of the early work I do as a therapist is around triggers and their impact on the body, mind and emotions, because we are a holistic and connected being after all, not just a disconnected head floating around.

Working with glimmers helps us to become aware of what it’s like to feel safe and secure, rather than triggered, when this has perhaps become the norm…especially around holidays.

If I give you an example here, a glimmer for me is walking. I like to go out into the countryside, or along the coast and feel my body moving, because it brings me out of my head. I’ll also notice when this happens because at about mile three (or maybe seven depending on what I have going on), I start to become more aware of my surroundings — the sounds, sights and the sensations (cold, warm etc) and then I know I’ve started to feel the glimmer.

For you, your glimmer may be a good book, or it may be going out with friends, or a good meal. We’re all different after all. However, the way you can tell whether it’s a glimmer is the way you feel. So instead of your mind telling you lots of things, you’ll notice a peace and quiet. You might also notice that you come out of the experience feeling rested, or rejuvenated.

Sarah