Glimmers and Microblessings: Small Shifts That Change Everything
Glimmers and Microblessings Hidden in Your Day
As Springfield therapists who specialize in faith-based mental health, we see firsthand how women carry anxiety, stress, and burnout into their daily lives. At Prosper Counseling, we believe that noticing glimmers—what we also call microblessings—can be a simple but powerful step toward healing.
When life feels heavy, it doesn’t take much to tip the scales. A stressful email. A child’s meltdown. The sound of your own anxious thoughts replaying at midnight. We’ve all experienced those triggers—moments that send us spiraling into stress, shame, or overwhelm.
But here’s the part many people don’t realize: just as your nervous system is wired to detect danger, it’s also wired to notice hope.
Those small, everyday sparks of safety and connection? They’re called glimmers.
And when we bring faith into the conversation, we might call them something even richer: microblessings—the daily reminders of God’s presence, woven into the ordinary moments of our lives.
What Are Glimmers?
The term glimmers was coined by therapist Deb Dana, one of the leading voices in Polyvagal Theory, a neuroscience framework for understanding how our nervous system responds to stress.
If triggers are cues of danger, glimmers are the opposite—tiny cues of safety. They remind your brain and body: you’re safe, you’re loved, you’re okay.
Examples of glimmers include:
Sunlight streaming through your window
A warm smile from your child
The sound of birds outside your office
Hearing your favorite worship song in the car
The smell of coffee brewing in the morning
These moments might seem small, but they carry weight. Your nervous system is constantly scanning for cues—are you safe or not safe? Glimmers send the message that you are safe, shifting your body out of survival mode and into a state of calm and connection.
Glitter
Microblessings: The Faith Lens
As people of faith, we can take glimmers one step further. Scripture tells us: “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17).
That means those glimmers aren’t random—they’re microblessings. They’re God’s way of showing His presence in the middle of our everyday lives.
Examples of microblessings might look like:
A verse that lands in your devotional right when you needed it most
A friend’s encouraging text in the middle of a hard day
The sound of laughter echoing in your home
A sense of peace in prayer when you were overwhelmed
When you frame glimmers as blessings from God, they become more than positive psychology—they become spiritual anchors reminding you that God sees you, loves you, and is near.
Why Glimmers & Microblessings Work (The Science + Faith Connection)
The Neuroscience
Research shows that intentionally noticing small positive cues can:
Lower cortisol (the body’s main stress hormone)
Improve heart rate variability (a measure of nervous system resilience)
Increase neuroplasticity in brain regions tied to gratitude and joy
Decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression
[Study: Fredrickson, 2013, Positive Emotions Broaden and Build Resources]
[Study: Garland et al., 2015, Mindfulness Broadens Awareness and Builds Resilience]
In other words, when you train your brain to look for glimmers, your brain gets better at finding them. You literally rewire your nervous system for calm and resilience.
The Faith Connection
From a faith perspective, glimmers and microblessings point us back to God’s goodness. The psalmist says: “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). Each small blessing is an invitation to notice God’s fingerprints in your life.
Science tells us that noticing glimmers changes our brains. Scripture tells us that noticing blessings changes our hearts. Together, they bring wholeness.
How to Practice Glimmers & Microblessings
Here’s how you can begin weaving this practice into your daily life:
Pause & Notice
Slow down enough to catch the small details. Ask yourself: What feels good right now?Name It
Put language to it. Say out loud, “That was a glimmer” or “Thank you, Lord, for this blessing.”Savor It
Take a deep breath and let the moment sink in. Science shows it takes 20 seconds of focus for a positive experience to “stick” in your brain.Record It
Keep a glimmer journal. Write down one or two microblessings a day. Over time, you’ll have a tangible record of God’s faithfulness. Or snap a photo and make a folder of “Glimmers” in your saved files.Share It
Tell your spouse, your kids, or a friend. Sharing multiplies the joy and strengthens connection.
Journal Prompts for Noticing Glimmers
Where did I notice a moment of calm or joy today?
What unexpected gift did I receive in my ordinary routine?
How did I see God’s presence show up in the small things?
Who encouraged me, even in a subtle way?
What moment would I have missed if I hadn’t slowed down?
Biblical Anchors for Glimmers & Microblessings
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights” (James 1:17).
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22–23).
“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him” (Psalm 34:8).
Each verse reminds us that glimmers are not accidents — they are mercies, renewed daily.
Why This Matters for Anxiety, Stress, and Burnout
If you’re living with high-functioning anxiety, carrying the weight of burnout, or simply trying to hold it all together as a working mom, noticing glimmers may feel too small to matter.
But the truth is, healing rarely starts with massive leaps. It starts with noticing one safe breath, one small joy, one reminder of God’s goodness.
And as you notice more glimmers, your nervous system learns: I’m not alone. I’m safe. God is here.
Need support building a calmer, more connected you?
Prosper Counseling helps reduce anxiety, quiet the inner critic, reclaim peace and joy again—in Springfield, Ozark, Nixa, Republic, across Missouri and Kansas: Overland Park, Leawood, Lee’s Summit, and the Kansas City Metro via telehealth.
Prosper in Motherhood by Larissa Darter is a practical, faith‑infused roadmap for calmer homes and stronger families. If this post helped, grab the book for more encouragement and practical help. You can find the book now on Amazon.
Ready to work together?!
👇 Click below to schedule.
Prosper Counseling serves clients in Kansas and Missouri; including major metros Kansas City metro area, The Ozarks, Springfield, MO, St. Louis, MO and beyond. Mental Health and Life Coaching is available to everyone in all fifty states!
Learn more about christian counseling, women’s mental health, high functioning anxiety, or discover if you are a highly sensitive person.
Download one of our free guides on Stress and Anxiety Management, Establishing Family Culture, or the Bible Reading Plan in our free resources.
Purchase our Gratitude Changes Everything Journal or habit tracker.
📍 Serving clients virtually in Missouri and Kansas. Coaching in all 50 states.
🌿 Faith-based therapy for women & couples navigating anxiety and trauma
📬 Learn more or schedule a free consultation
📲 Follow on Instagram: @larissa.darter
Looking for more resources? Visit the online shop for free and low-cost downloads.
