Highlighting Glimmers in a World of Triggers
Finding the Good in a World that Focuses on the Bad
What is a glimmer, exactly? If you look up the definition on many search engines, it will just say they are the opposite of triggers. While that is technically correct, I’d be more specific in saying that it’s those little moments of joy we get throughout the day, and throughout our lifetimes. Often, they can be things that are out of our control, and other times they are “mundane” everyday things that we don’t even think about.
Here are some quick examples of glimmers that come to mind off the top of my head:
That first sip of coffee/tea in the morning (or any time of day).
Stepping outside into the sun and soaking up all of those good feels.
A walk through a park on a wonderful day.
Getting a good message from a friend or family member.
A playful interaction with a child.
Payday for work!
Looking at your clock in the morning and realizing how much sleep you got (yup that one’s for me).
Sliding into freshly washed sheets or comfortable clothes right after they come out of the dryer.
A wonderful hug from someone who cares about you.
Helping out someone in need.
A POSITIVE social media interaction. Yes, social media doesn’t have to be an evil hellscape.
Wonderful sports moments.
Cooking a good meal.
Enjoying a savory meal.
Writing an article before you start off your day (again, that one’s for me haha).
As you can see, the list of glimmers is long and varied. It can come from anywhere at any time. But the point of a glimmer, is that it should be something that makes you feel good, while also not causing harm to others. I’d argue that in a world that has many gray areas, glimmers are kind of an outlier in that they almost always cause overall goodness. Sports might be an exception there, but I won’t quibble too much.
A glimmer certainly is not when you are going out of your way to hurt or attack someone, even if that “makes you feel good” in the moment. So, while it may feel good in the moment to “own the troll” on social media, I wouldn’t classify that as a glimmer moment personally, no matter how in the right you are. Glimmer moments are also not when you take joy in the suffering of others. That seems self explanatory and so I will leave it at that.
So, how do we find, and more importantly focus on these glimmer moments in a world that seems to be hellbent on triggering us at all times? With all the notifications many of us have on our phones, how many of those are glimmers vs. triggers? If you get news notifications or see news headlines, how many of those are glimmers vs. triggers? According to the company Goodable, over 94% of news reported is bad news, or a trigger. And that is the case no matter where you’re getting the news from.
And what of your social media algorithms? Unless you have robust blocked accounts and muted words, the “for you” feeds will be nothing but a sea of triggering content. Even then, it’s sometimes not enough. I have spoken multiple times about how social media platforms aim to trigger you into a depressed/angered mental state so you will doom scroll and get sucked into wasting your time and energy on hate/rage. And as these platforms embrace more hate and blatant misinformation, again unless you actively fight against it, places like Twitter and Meta properties become cesspools where triggering content flourishes and is boosted and encouraged by their owners.
So, how do we focus on glimmer moments when we are surrounded in a world of triggers? Here’s a list of a few simple things that can help:
If you must have social media on your phone, turn off the notifications, or relegate them to the notification center so they do not pop up on your lock screen.
Lean into small glimmer moments. Feel that hug you get from a friend. Really enjoy your tea or coffee in the morning instead of chugging it on the run. Stop and enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of a great walk in the park.
Stay informed, but not inundated with the news. I understand that we need to be informed, but we can’t allow ourselves to confuse being informed with being consumed. Many news sites, even with good intentions, want you to be consumed and obsessed. This is why they show you almost solely bad headlines.
Acknowledge triggers, but don’t dwell on them. Believe me, easier said than done, especially as a professional ruminator. But it’s not impossible.
Don’t allow the potential hundreds of glimmer moments that can happen daily to pass you by. Being grateful and thankful for the little glimmers is a great way to fill and focus your life around their goodness.
This is definitely something I’ll be writing about moving forward. I already know I’ll be doing something on how to make your phone a glimmer object as opposed to a triggering one. And I think I’ll write about the glimmer moments that happen to me as well. Not to sound grandiose, but we are at a point in human history where the urgent need to focus and uplift glimmers instead of tiggers is at an all time high. Our brain and mental health is more vulnerable now than it has ever been, especially with the ease that triggering content can inundate us with the supercomputers in our pockets.
Let’s start a movement. Let’s go out of our way to focus on the glimmer moments throughout our day that almost always trounce the triggering ones. What will be your glimmer moments today? How many have already happened? Let’s talk about them, and talk about them often.
Thank you for reading and supporting Preston’s Eclectic Musings. Any support is always appreciated, but if you feel so inclined, feel free to subscribe to get my weekly writing.
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Preston, this is great! I was learning to lean into glimmers before there was a word to describe what they were; i like having a name for them now, instead of trying to describe, "ya know....that...that SPECIAL MOMENT when you take your first hot sip of coffee and your world feels good? Or when you step outside and the smell of grass hits JUST right...???" I think i came to understand them through deathwork, which is a very roundabout way.
I like your suggestions about muting notifications for social media. Dude, I couldn't imagine if I had notifications enabled.....the only notifications I allow AT ALL are texts and emails, and I religiously cull my inbox so I don't receive a ton of spam and promos.
Ranting now, but all that's to say thanks again!
Positive social media interactions. I mean that’s how we met!! Hahaha