glimmer hunting
Glimmers are tiny moments, things and happenings that are a spark of soft, warm goodness. Consciously seeking out these moments is proven to be an accessible way for people to grow their curiosity and promote joy.
TIME NEEDED
5–10 minutes
MATERIALS
– a notebook
– a pen or pencil
HOW TO TAKE THIS DOSE
You can practise this activity anywhere – in an office, on a bus, at a train station – but it is best done outside if you can. This is an observational practice; it’s about taking time to look around you and then looking a little longer and a little deeper. It can take as long as 10 minutes for something to reveal itself, but there will always be a small glimmer waiting to be harvested.
Move away from wherever you are and go to a space nearby. Notice what you see, what you hear, how you feel. Look left, then right; look up, down and all around. Then linger somewhere and just watch what is happening. What can you see? It might be as subtle as the flicker of a shadow moving past you. If you see something that catches your eye, that makes you pay attention, pause there and notice it. You might have just collected a glimmer. Glimmers are a little beginning that can lead to joy. Write down what you found in your notebook. Over time, if you practise this activity again and again, you’ll build a list of glimmers that you can return to when you need them. Or just enjoy your glimmer and move on, knowing that such moments can be fleeting.
BENEFITS
This activity is a wonderful exercise for tuning in and noticing the good stuff – the joy, the beauty and the sparks that are happening around us. Sitting at the opposite end of the spectrum to triggers, glimmers (a concept conceived by trauma clinician and social worker Deb Dana), offer the opportunity to develop a practice of receiving and recognising joy. Glimmer hunting builds curiosity. It helps us slow down and primes our nervous system to receive cues of delight, connection and safety.