Friday

Happy Friday! As we cruise into the weekend:

• What to know about “glimmers,” the opposite of triggers

• The benefits of letting our minds wander

• Transform your confidence with hers

• How to make peace when your life looks different than you may have hoped

What to Know About “Glimmers,” The Opposite of Triggers

While triggers can be extremely uncomfortable to experience, glimmers offer rays of hope and happiness.

Glimmers are the opposite of triggers and are moments when our bodies recognize a feeling of being safe and calm. The idea was first coined by licensed clinical social worker Deb Dana in her 2018 book "The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy."

While triggers may make us instantly anxious, tense, or panicked, as our sympathetic nervous system is activated, glimmers make us feel safe, secure, and at peace.

This happens when we are in the “ventral vagal state,” which activates our parasympathetic nervous system (known as “rest and digest”), Verywell Mind shared.

Many of us could easily identify things that are triggering. But how do you find glimmers?

Ask yourself what makes you feel safe. Where is your safe space? Tap into your senses and consider what sights, sounds, smells, and so forth make you feel calm.

Consider seemingly small things that make you feel good. This could be everything from cuddling your pet to waking up on the weekend and being cuddled close under the covers.

Whether you experience a trigger or simply need a moment to of security, reach for those glimmers when you can throughout the day to reassure yourself and feel good.

Why We Should Let Our Minds Wander

Daydreaming isn’t only relaxing — there are also some amazing benefits.

• Benefits of creativity: Research shows that mind wandering can boost creativity and problem-solving.

• Let your brain unplug: The second we have downtime, we often default to scrolling our phones or jumping into a productive task. Allowing our minds to wander lets them rest and do what they do best — think!

• Learning: Even if we think up scenarios that may never exist, our wandering minds may conjure problems and solutions to prepare us for the future. This may even inspire ideas you never thought of before!

• Boost mood: Creativity and well-being are linked. Therefore, exploring your creative thoughts can improve your mood.

Don’t feel like you have to get your head out of the clouds! Next time you find your mind wandering, be curious and see where it goes.

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Making Peace When Life Looks a Little Differently Than You May Have Hoped

It can be disheartening to reflect upon the years and realize that your life looks differently than you had hoped. Maybe you feel behind, maybe your timeline looks off, or maybe your goals and priorities shifted.

While we may feel down and hard on ourselves, there are ways to make peace when life looks a little different than we imagined.

• Remind yourself what you can and can’t control: There is only so much we can control. Remind yourself that you can’t change the weather (along with many other factors) and that you’ve done your best.

• Decide where you want to pivot: If there are goals you want to accomplish, remember you have the power to drive change in your life. Create SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) goals that align with your values, but remember to be gentle with yourself.

• Don’t wait “until” for happiness: We can tell ourselves, “If I can just ___, then I’ll be happy,” all day long. But how long are we going to wait “until?” Embrace the things that bring you joy, and know that there are little ways to find happiness in each day.

Parting Thoughts

• ✅ Did You Know: 80 to 90% of people who seek the necessary form of help for their mental health treatment can function the way they did previously. This shows the power of treatment.

• 🙋🏼‍♀️ Snapshot Of The Day: We'd love to see moments from our readers lives that they are proud of! If you recently accomplished an achievement, experienced a joyful moment, or are proud of a picture you have taken, be sure to capture it on camera and send it to us for a chance to be featured next week! 

• 💭 Final Self-Care Thoughts for Today: Regardless of what life may look like, remember that you are doing your best — and that's enough.

Enjoying Note to Self?

Know of a great self-care tip or article you'd love to share with the community? Want to send us pictures of you completing one of your self-care rituals? Email us at [email protected]!