The Power of Glimmers: Finding Joy in the Smallest Moments
There’s a buzzword that floats through modern motherhood like a warning sign: triggers.
We’re told to watch for them. Manage them. Avoid them. Heal from them.
And yes—awareness of what dysregulates us is important. But what if we also became just as aware of what regulates us?
What if, instead of only managing our stress, we sought out glimmers?
Because here’s the truth: just as your body keeps the score of trauma, it also remembers tenderness.
And in the midst of swollen ankles, hormone swings, sleepless nights, or the sacred mess of early motherhood—there are glimmers waiting to hold you.
What’s a Glimmer?
A glimmer is a micro-moment that signals safety, peace, or joy to your nervous system.
It’s the exact opposite of a trigger—and it’s just as powerful.
It might be:
→ Sunlight dancing on your baby’s hair
→ The smell of homemade broth bubbling in the kitchen
→ A quiet moment where you catch your breath and remember you’re doing it—this life you prayed for
→ The first time your partner kisses your postpartum belly with the same reverence he did when it was full of baby
These moments matter.
They might not be loud, but they are loud to your nervous system.
They remind your body: you are safe, you are loved, you are here.
Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum: The Perfect Glimmer Ground
You don’t have to wait for everything to be perfect to experience joy. In fact, the most potent glimmers often come in the most imperfect moments.
→ When the birth pool fills and you feel the sacred hush of what’s about to begin
→ When your baby latches for the first time and time stands still
→When your toddler brings you a flower with sticky fingers and eyes full of pride
→When your postpartum body, soft and strong, steps into a warm robe and feels held
These aren’t random. They’re reminders.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights…”
James 1:17
Glimmers are a gift from God—gentle signposts that He is with you in the quiet, the ordinary, the unseen.
They are how you build nervous system resilience, not just recovery.
How to Notice More Glimmers
Slow Down. Glimmers are quiet. They don’t shout. You have to be still enough to hear them.
Breathe Through Your Senses. What do you see, smell, hear, feel, taste right now that is comforting or beautiful? That’s your entry point.
Celebrate the Small. Normalize joy. Let your nervous system marinate in it. Let your brain rewire for it.
Name It. When you experience a glimmer, say it out loud or write it down. “That moment felt safe.” “That smell felt like home.”
Ask God to Reveal More. Invite Him to show you His presence in the mundane. He’s not just in the miracles—He’s in the mug of tea, the sticky kisses, the slow exhale.
You Deserve to Feel Good—Not Just “Get Through It”
Pregnancy and postpartum are not seasons to merely survive.
You are allowed to feel joy in the midst of stretch marks and sleep deprivation.
You are allowed to feel sacred even when your hair hasn’t been washed in days.
You are allowed to notice beauty even when your heart feels tender.
That noticing is not frivolous. It’s healing.
Let Glimmers Be Your Guide
Let them be your compass. Your reset. Your reminder.
You don’t need a big sign to tell you you’re on the right path—just a flicker. Just a glimmer.
Because joy is not something you wait for on the other side of “done.”
It’s something you collect, moment by moment, breath by breath, in the most ordinary magic of motherhood.
You were made to notice.
You were made to delight.
You were made to mother with wonder.
And the more glimmers you gather, the more whole you’ll feel.
