Hey Hey Happy Friday you all! Welcome to The Exploration Hour, a space where we journey together through the intricate connections between the mind, body, and soul. In this hour, we pause and reflect, not just to explore, but to connect—with ourselves, with each other, and with the small, luminous threads of hope woven into the fabric of our lives.
Today, we’re talking about glimmers. Glimmer?
What ARE ✨GLIMMERS✨
These are the quiet, often overlooked moments that spark joy, safety, and connection. They’re often considered the opposite of triggers, those moments that set off alarm bells in our nervous system. Glimmers are the bells of hope, soft and subtle, calling us to notice and to breathe. I wanted to talk through this tonight, because last night at a silent book club I attend, I brought along a book titled Triggers, written by Marshall Goldsmith. Even though we ended up talking through most of book club, the word Glimmers came up as antithesis to the notion of triggers. And it made me remember one of my own glimmers—a time when I felt completely untethered, and then, there it was: the warm light of a sunset spilling through my car window. I had just picked up my dog from the vet, and here we were, in this perfect, sacred moment. It stopped me in my tracks. That light, so unassuming, reminded me that beauty exists, even when life feels unbearably heavy. It’s moments like these that we’re here to uncover tonight. That golden moment, that we can stretch into a golden hour tonight. You see sometimes we get so stuck in our being, our darkness that it feels impossibly heavy to evolve. Our simple act of looking at the world around us and takign in a different, golden light, is a rebellion to that darkness itself. So Glimmers in a way, are a way forward. A way that we notice something that sparks joy, or a knowing within us. Glimmer is Hope dressed up, and although it is fleeting, it’s a reminder that beauty exists, it’s obtainable, and there for you if you dare to reach out and seek it.
Let’s start with the foundation of Glimmers: Hope. What makes hope real? Hope is not just a feeling; it’s an intricate dance of the mind and body. Researchers like neuroscientist Tali Sharot have shown that hope is deeply rooted in our brain’s wiring. It’s tied to our ability to imagine positive outcomes, to believe in the possibility of something better.
When we experience a glimmer, something remarkable happens in our nervous system. According to Polyvagal Theory, our autonomic nervous system is constantly scanning our environment for cues of safety or danger. Glimmers are those safety cues—a gentle touch, a kind word, or even the sound of a bird singing. They send a signal to our parasympathetic nervous system, activating what’s known as the "rest-and-digest" state. This state calms the mind, slows the heart, and reminds us that we are okay, even if just for a moment.
Neurochemically, glimmers spark the release of dopamine, the brain’s reward chemical. It’s as though the universe whispers, “Here is something good. Notice it. Hold onto it.” And in holding onto it, we create pathways in the brain that make it easier to notice more good things in the future. Over time, we can train ourselves to look for the light, even in the darkest places.
Our culture is waking up to the importance of these small, ordinary joys. You see it in the rise of practices like mindfulness and gratitude journaling. We’re starting to understand that resilience isn’t always about grand gestures or monumental victories; it’s often about finding strength in the quiet moments.
Think about how social media, for all its flaws, has become a repository for glimmers. A short video of a puppy taking its first wobbly steps. A photo of sunlight streaming through autumn leaves. These glimpses of beauty and connection remind us of what’s good and pure in the world. But let’s also tread carefully. The pursuit of glimmers isn’t about curating a picture-perfect life. It’s about authenticity, about recognizing what genuinely stirs your heart, even if no one else sees it.
Let’s pause here and anchor ourselves with a piece of poetry. I wanted to Highlight Jane Hirshfield tonight. Jane Hirshfield is a poet of profound sensitivity and wisdom, whose words often serve as a bridge between the intimate and the universal. Her path as a poet began with a deep love for literature and a longing to make sense of the complexities of life. Her work is steeped in a quiet attentiveness to the world, an ability to find the sacred in the ordinary, and an unflinching exploration of what it means to be human. Her life has been shaped by moments of profound introspection and resilience. After graduating from Princeton University in its first coeducational class, she chose a life dedicated to poetry and Zen practice. Her time at the San Francisco Zen Center was pivotal, instilling in her a profound sense of stillness and interconnectedness that permeates her writing. Yet, this path was not without struggle. In interviews, she has spoken about the challenges of loneliness, the uncertainties of pursuing art in a world that often prioritizes other forms of success, and the vulnerability required to live a life of creative openness. Her poetry reflects her ability to inhabit life’s joys and sorrows with equal reverence. Whether she is writing about a tree, a moment of loss, or the ache of yearning, Hirshfield’s work resonates because it feels both deeply personal and universally true. Her words remind us that we are not alone in our struggles, that others too have felt what we feel, and that even in pain, there is beauty and connection. Hirshfield’s ability to connect lies in her insistence on noticing. And that’s exactly what we are talkign about here, tonight. Noticing. She pays attention to the small, often overlooked moments— a cracked bowl, the way sunlight slants through a window and transforms them into meditations on impermanence, resilience, and hope. She doesn’t shy away from life’s darker aspects, but rather holds them tenderly, showing us how to find light even within the shadows. In her own words: “Poetry’s work is the clarification and magnification of being.” Through her poetry, Hirshfield invites us to pause, to breathe, and to see the world anew. She is a poet of connection, to ourselves, to each other, and to the fragile, fleeting beauty of the world around us. Her life and work remind us that even in our struggles, we are part of something vast, intricate, and profoundly meaningful. Here’s one of her Poems I return to often, especially while looking for the Glimmers in my life:
"The Small Lamp" by Jane Hirshfield
When everything around you seems dark,
there is a small lamp lit within,
its light flickering yet unyielding.
A single bird’s call at dawn,
or the hand of a stranger
who steadies you as you stumble.
These are the things that say,
“Continue.”
Take a moment to let these words settle. What’s your small lamp? What is that Glimmer within its flames? What reminds you to continue? For all of you journalers out there, this is your reflection moment. The part of our talk tonight where we take a step back, reflect, ask the big questions, meditate, breathe, and live in this moment together. If you have a journal, this is the time to take out your pen, open the notes app, or close your eyes and listen and meditate on the world within.
Take a deep breath and settle into the moment. Feel the weight of your body supported by the chair or floor. Close your eyes if it feels comfortable, and imagine a light, small and steady, flickering somewhere in the distance. This is your glimmer— a tiny spark of hope, joy, or safety that exists even in uncertain times.
Open your journal, and let’s begin a gentle exploration of these luminous moments in your life:
Think back to the past day or week. Was there a moment, however small, that made you feel even a sliver of joy, safety, or connection? It could be the warmth of your morning coffee, a kind word from a stranger, or the way the sunlight danced on your walls.
Describe this moment in detail. What did it look, sound, or feel like?
How did it make you feel in that instant?
Now, take a closer look at that glimmer. Why do you think it resonated with you?
Was it a reminder of something important, like love, beauty, or resilience?
Did it shift your mood or your perspective, even momentarily?
Write about how this small moment of light affected your day or outlook.
Shift your attention to the here and now. Look around you. What in your immediate environment could be a glimmer? Is it the texture of the paper you’re writing on, the sound of the wind outside, or a photo of a loved one nearby?
Write down what you notice and how it makes you feel.
If nothing stands out, what could you imagine creating as a glimmer in this moment?
Finally, set an intention to seek out glimmers tomorrow.
Write one or two things you’ll do to notice or create moments of light. It could be as simple as pausing to breathe or taking time to appreciate a flower on your walk.
End your journaling practice with gratitude for this time, for your ability to notice, and for the glimmers that are already present in your life.
Take another deep breath, close your journal, and carry this sense of connectedness with you into the rest of your night.
So maybe that exercise was easy for you, maybe a bunch of things you saw or thought of gleamed about your life, or maybe it was hard. Maybe there was basely one that made it’s way into your mind— and that’s okay too. Next we’re going to dive in to how to find these glimmers and start noticing them more and more in our lives.
First, Reset.
How do we find these glimmers, these small lamps, in our own lives? The answer is simpler than we might think. It begins with slowing down and opening our senses to the present moment.
Notice the Small Things: The way sunlight feels on your skin. The sound of rain tapping against a window. The warmth of a loved one’s smile. These moments are everywhere, waiting for us to notice.
Start a Glimmer Journal: At the end of each day, write down one thing that brought you a spark of joy. Over time, this practice rewires the brain, making it easier to see the good even on hard days.
Share Your Glimmers: Tell a friend or loved one about something that made you smile. Connection amplifies the power of these moments.
One listener shared this story: During a tough day, they noticed a flower blooming through a crack in the sidewalk. It seemed impossible, but there it was, thriving against all odds. That flower became a symbol of hope, a reminder of resilience.
Hope can feel elusive in times of struggle, but it’s precisely in those moments that glimmers shine the brightest. They remind us that even in uncertainty, there is still beauty, still love, still connection.
Community plays a vital role here. When we share our struggles and joys, we create spaces where others can find their own glimmers. Imagine a world where we all carried a small lamp, lighting the way for each other.
Reframe your struggles as seasons of growth. Like seeds beneath the soil, we are often growing even when we can’t see it. Glimmers are the signs that growth is happening, that life is continuing, that hope is alive.
As we come to the end of this hour, let’s take a moment to reflect. Glimmers are all around us, waiting to be seen, felt, and cherished. They’re the threads that weave us together, reminding us that we’re never truly alone.
This week, I invite you to find one glimmer each day. Write it down, share it, or simply hold it close to your heart. And remember the words of Desmond Tutu:
“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.”
Thank you for spending this time with me on The Exploration Hour. Together, let’s continue to seek, to notice, and to connect. If you liked what you heard today, go ahead and give me a follow, give our other contributors a follow and feel free to look into some of my other talks underneath the talk tab in my profile. Until next time, may your days be filled with glimmers of hope and love. Kate here— signing off
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