The Power of Glimmers: How 3-Second Joys Can Transform Your Mood (2025)

Imagine starting your day with a simple 3-second action that could transform your entire mindset—turning everyday chaos into a source of genuine calm and joy. What if the key to lifting your spirits lay in these fleeting 'glimmers' of delight?

For South African author Bridget McNulty, whose insights can be explored at bridgetmcnulty.com, the small joys in life hold incredible power. Picture the warmth of that initial morning coffee, the way sunshine filters through your curtains, or spotting a fresh bud emerging on a potted plant. These are what she terms 'glimmers'—brief bursts of happiness lasting mere seconds. Yet, according to her, they pack enough punch to reduce stress, soothe your body's stress responses, and help you rediscover the subtle pleasures embedded in routine existence.

As Bridget puts it, 'Glimmers serve as mini-bursts of positivity that help stabilize your nervous system. They're small in size, but their combined impact is profound. Each time you spot one, you create a brief break, allowing your system to unwind and even release a touch of serotonin. Over time, accumulating these moments truly enhances your overall emotional well-being.'

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'Spotting these glimmers acts as a coping mechanism,' she continues, 'providing a quick respite. The true benefit lies in the buildup—morning, midday, and night—gradually altering your emotional state.'

Bridget has compiled over 1,000 potential glimmers in her book Daily Glimmers, designed for readers to explore daily or seasonally. Examples include the nostalgic tune of a childhood favorite song, the infectious giggle of a kid, waking up naturally without the jolt of an alarm, or witnessing a vibrant rainbow arching across the sky. She emphasizes that actively seeking these moments breaks the cycle of automatic behavior, pulling you into the present—a vital skill in our era overloaded with distractions.

Moreover, it's an effortless technique. 'It requires no money and doesn't burden your schedule with extra tasks,' she notes.

The challenge, however, is that we're biologically predisposed to overlook these positives. 'Our brains are geared toward detecting threats, leading to a negativity focus,' Bridget explains. 'In modern life, we're perpetually on edge, even without real dangers like wild animals. If we follow our instincts without intervention, we'll keep fixating on the downsides. Yet, by consciously tuning into these joys and setting low standards for what counts as delightful, we can significantly enrich our experiences.'

[Image credit: Getty Images]

It's important to note that glimmers differ from full-blown happiness. 'Happiness arises when life's smooth sailing,' she says. 'Joy, on the other hand, persists regardless of circumstances. Happiness relies on external factors, but joy remains within reach always.'

What makes glimmers especially valuable is their universal availability, including in tough or exhausting times when usual self-care routines seem out of reach. Drawing from her personal experiences—Bridget, also the creator of The Grief Handbook and the story Strange Nervous Laughter—she first grasped their significance following her mother's unexpected passing, and again after a recent family loss. These tiny spots of brightness provided solace amid profound darkness.

[Image credit: Getty Images]

'They succeed precisely because nothing else does in those moments,' she shares. 'No matter how bleak things are, you can still appreciate the comfort of sliding into bed at day's end. These small beacons of hope prevent everything from seeming utterly bleak.'

So, how does one begin? 'Initially, aim to identify just one positive element each day,' she advises. 'Committing to observe and note one uplifting event makes you more attuned to it. By deliberately hunting for glimmers, you'll spot them increasingly, and remember, they're not grand—they're often insignificant. The skill lies in the observation, and it's one you can cultivate through repetition.'

And this is the part most people miss: Could training ourselves to notice these glimmers fundamentally change how we process daily stress, or is it a band-aid solution that distracts from addressing root causes like systemic issues or mental health disorders?

What are your thoughts? Do you think incorporating glimmers into your routine could genuinely improve your mood, or does it feel too simplistic in a world full of real problems? Share your opinions in the comments—do you agree this is a game-changer, or disagree that such small actions can make a big difference? Let's discuss!

The Power of Glimmers: How 3-Second Joys Can Transform Your Mood (2025)

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