Reclaiming Joy: Growing Your 'Glimmer Muscle'
Seeing the world through a child's eyes with Confidence Coach Lucia
A recent post about glimmers got one of our Confidence Coaches, Lucia, thinking deeply about children and glimmers, so we wanted to share some wise words from her...
“Glimmers are so important; they are the pure joy in life, that feeling that can’t quite be put into words. Glimmers are all around us, all of the time, but as adults, we often don’t tend to see them. Children do though.
Glimmers burst into our lives when we pay attention, but they escape from us when we’re wrapped up in our worry thoughts.
Children are very good at spotting Glimmers because they are naturally happy and joyful. Even during sad times, they can bounce back quickly. They have this natural joie de vivre, awe, and wonder—it seems to be their default setting.
Remembering Childhood Glimmers
When I was a child, I would notice Glimmers everywhere.
I remember at age 7 walking to school and passing under a canopy of trees, seeing the sunlight glisten on the leaves, and feeling intensely joyful. I remember going to the park on my new scooter and feeling incredibly excited as I scooted up the hill to the swings. Even though my home life was difficult, I trusted the world and the beautiful nature outside. I felt safe, calm, and happy.
I think back to that time and would love to have those Glimmers again.
There was a time in my adult life when I didn’t see any Glimmers; everything was dark and grey, and I truly forgot what it was like to be a child.
The Glimmer Muscle
But then I realised, YES I CAN! Recognizing glimmers is a skill to learn and practice. I can develop it; I can grow my Glimmer Muscle. The more I use it, the stronger this Glimmer Muscle will become, and the more joyful I will be. This is neuroplasticity in action.
So, start to do just that: practice paying attention and noticing that everything, every present moment, is a gift.
Keep practising, and your Glimmer Muscle will get stronger.
It’s often easier to start with nature. Look at the sky and clouds and tell yourself how beautiful it all is. Then, feel the feeling, breathe it in, and allow yourself to become emotional about it. Shed a tear of joy—yes, you can cry about a cloud!
The more you practise, the easier it will be to feel those emotions, and the joyful feeling will be anchored to whatever you’re looking at.
Feeling these joyful emotions releases happy chemicals, which are incredibly good for your health and well-being.
So start today: look at the world through a child’s eyes, see what they see, and grow the joy. Then, write down those Glimmers and put them in a Glimmer Jar to remind you of all the good in your life.
And as Miranda says in her previous post, ‘Look out for Glimmers, breathe them in, and hold onto them tight!’”
🤝 Get Support for Your Child’s Confidence
Lucia is one of our amazing Happy Confident Kids coaches. Based in Geneva, she carries out 1-2-1 coaching sessions both face-to-face and online.
Contact us today to find out how Lucia and our network of Kids Confidence Coaches can provide support to help your child or young person find their joy and build lasting confidence.