Forget Triggers—Sazan Hendrix Shares Why It’s Time to Look for ‘Glimmers’ Instead

We all know what it’s like to be set off by something tiny—the barking dog, the endless group text, or the driver who cuts you off before your second coffee. But what if there was something that gently brought you back to yourself instead of pulling you apart? On I’m Fun Now, host Sazan Hendrix introduced her audience to a concept called “glimmers.”

They’re the emotional antidote to triggers—small, fleeting moments that spark joy, calm, or gratitude. And as Hendrix explains, the more you train yourself to notice them, the more they start to show up.

Glimmers are the Antidote to Triggers

What glimmers actually look like

So, what qualifies as a glimmer? According to Hendrix, they’re not grand gestures or milestone moments. They’re the in-between details we often rush past—”the way the sunlight hits your kitchen table,” “a hug from your kid,” or even the rare silence that happens before the day begins.

“Once you train your brain to be on the lookout for glimmers,” she explains, “these tiny moments will appear more and more.” It’s a habit of awareness, and it’s a practice that can transform your daily experience.

For Hendrix, that awareness has become an intentional daily practice. She mentions that she wants her podcast itself to be one of those bright spots for her listeners—”a glimmer in your day,” she says warmly. “Just that little spark of joy.”

Why it works

Psychologists describe something similar as the brain’s “reticular activating system”—the part that filters what we notice. If we’re constantly scanning for stress, we’ll find it everywhere. But if we teach our brains to look for connection or beauty, those patterns start to dominate instead. Hendrix doesn’t get technical about it, but her lived version of that science feels just as grounded.

She admits that we all have those days where one irritation spirals into ten more. “When you get triggered,” she says, “just know this too shall pass. We are going to get back to our glimmer state of mind.”

The power of small joy

Hendrix’s audience, many of whom are mothers or women navigating midlife transitions, connected deeply to the idea. These glimmer moments are “sprinkled throughout our day,” and in a culture obsessed with productivity, that kind of mindfulness can feel quietly rebellious.

How to find your own glimmers

You don’t need a meditation app or an hour of free time to find the glimmers in your own life. Start by paying attention to your senses—what you see, smell, hear, or feel that briefly lifts your mood. It’s a simple practice that can bring a lot of joy. Maybe it’s your favorite song on the radio, the smell of clean sheets, or the first sip of coffee before anyone else is awake.

The trick, Hendrix explains, is repetition. The more you acknowledge a glimmer, the stronger the association becomes. It’s a small act of self-regulation disguised as gratitude. And on tough days, it can be the difference between spiraling and grounding.

“Once you start noticing them,” she reminds her audience, “you’ll realize they were always there—you just weren’t tuned in yet.”

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