Spring “Glimmers” & The Science of Small Joys

I was out walking this week when I caught myself smiling at something small: a yellow flower I hadn’t seen the day before.

And I realized—I’ve been collecting these little moments lately. A warm breeze. The first ice cream of the season. The smell of freshly turned soil.

These are what we call Glimmers.

In the language of positive psychology, "Glimmers” are tiny moments that spark a sense of safety, joy, awe, or connection. Subtle cues that signal: you’re okay, you’re grounded, you’re here.

Glimmers are the opposite of triggers.

And I think spring is full of them! Maybe because it naturally invites the senses to wake up. More light. More color. More to notice.

And when we take a moment to feel the joy or awe in these small things, we’re doing more than romanticizing nature. We’re helping our nervous system regulate. We’re creating micro-moments of well-being.

Noticing glimmers is a practice. It brings us back to our body, our breath, and the present. And the more we notice, the easier it becomes to spot them.

So if you’ve felt that little spring shift—if you’ve noticed yourself slowing down to watch something bloom or soaking in a patch of sun—this is your reminder that it’s not trivial. It’s meaningful and it matters.

What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts if you feel like sharing. Feel free email me or DM me on Instagram. My inbox and DMs are always open!

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