Janine: [00:00:00] Hello, and welcome to another episode of Unleashing Brilliance. It's great to have you here. Can you believe it? We are standing on the edge of another year, ready to leap into a brand new year of 2025.
This time of year I find is always full of so many mixed [00:01:00] emotions. you know, there might be excitement for what's ahead, but potentially also that nagging pressure To reflect on goals that you set, but you didn't quite achieve.
Today, I want to shift the focus instead of dwelling on what didn't happen. Let's celebrate the brilliance of the moments that did. I call these those glimmer moments, those small magical fragments of joy that will light up our lives. when we take the time to notice them. This episode is all about finding your glimmers, reflecting on the year that was, and carrying those moments of joy into next year.
Trust me, this practice is life changing, so grab a coffee, settle in, and let's get into it. So, Let's take a moment to acknowledge where we're at right now. It's late December, it's a season of wrapping up and gosh, what a year it's been, right? For many of us, it's [00:02:00] been a blend of joy, of challenge, of laughter, of frustration, of growth.
And let's not even talk about all the incredible upheaval that's been going on in the world. But here's what I notice every single year. We tend to, if we're not careful, zero in on what we haven't achieved. That one project that didn't land. Those sales that didn't come through. That milestone that was missed.
Does this sound familiar? So what if instead we paused for a second and celebrated the glimmers? The small but profound moments that made our year amazing. These are the moments that hold the magic. A kind word from a stranger. It could be the way your child hugged you one morning. The success of a client.
That moment when you finally stood on stage and shared your genius. These glimmers. Often if we're not careful, they fly under the radar, but they are the threads that [00:03:00] weave a life well lived. Now this concept of glimmers comes from an incredible psychotherapist, a lady called Deb Dana, who describes them as the opposite of triggers.
As she says, triggers are the very things that activate the stress in our nervous system. But here's the difference. Glimmers. They bring calm, they connection, and they bring joy. And the beauty of glimmers is that they're unique to each and every single one of us. When I think about this year, it's been filled with so many glimmer moments.
You know, watching my son dance with his granny at his 21st birthday party. Ah, gosh, it fills me with joy seeing all three of my kids who are now 16, 19 and 21 heading out together. You know, those moments that you hope they're going to connect where they're laughing and they're chatting like best friends.
Jumping into the [00:04:00] ocean early one morning with my bestie and family. Feeling that chill of the water and that burst of sort of crazy joy that followed as you pull your head out of the ocean. And I even think about the moment I got completely lost under the Cutstar Casino in Sydney with that same bestie.
And it's a moment that could have been frustration, frustrating, but instead it turned into fits of giggles and a story I'll never forget. There were the stunning sunrises that reminded me of life's beauty. You know, sharing a glass of wine with my husband Jason as we watched whales breaching so close to shore.
And, and the amazing look and excitement in my daughter Taya's face when she got into the university that she dreamed of always attending. You know, these glimmers, they weren't grand events. They were moments of connection, of joy, of being truly present. And I wonder. What are your glimmers from this last year?
You know, maybe it's the smell of [00:05:00] freshly brewed coffee in the morning. Maybe it's the laughter of your teen during a brainstorming session. Or maybe it's a quiet moment reading your favorite book. Glimmers are deeply personal and when we take the time to notice them, they remind us of how extraordinary life really is.
Let me share something magical that we did recently at my end of year planning event in Sydney with my Elevate and Inner Circle clients. We were reflecting on the year that was and, you know, asking all the usual questions. What were your wins this year? What are the major milestones that you've hit?
What are some of the things that you've missed and what are some of those difficult things you've got through? What have you learned through this process? All those usual reflection questions. And. The final part of this exercise, I asked everyone to pull out their phones. And I asked them to go month by month through their photos on their phone.
I wanted them to work through those photos [00:06:00] and to pause, to note the moments, the things that had happened to them, the events that they'd attended, the family celebrations, whatever it was. I wanted them to go through their photo library month by month and pick out the photos. One of these glimmer moments, the room completely shifted, you know, there were smiles, there were bursts of laughter, there were audible oohs and ahhs and giggles as people rediscovered the moments that they'd forgotten.
This energy was contagious. Some people even got really teary as they realized just how much joy and just how much progress their year had actually held. You know, it's such a powerful reminder that even in the busiest, the most challenging years, these glimmers are there waiting for us to notice them.
And this is something that I think we all need to do. We need to pull out our phones and look back through our [00:07:00] photos. I promise you that you will find moments that remind you of the beauty, of the connection, of the growth that this year has brought you. There's a science behind this practice too, you know, reflecting on positive moments like glimmers can have a profound impact on our mental health and research shows that gratitude rewires our brain.
It helps us feel calmer and feel more connected Psychotherapist Deb Dana says glimmers actually activate our body's rest and digest system, calms the nervous system and fosters this sense of safety and connection. And I love this quote by Oprah Winfrey, she said,
"the more you praise and celebrate your life,
the more there is in life to celebrate."
Taking time to acknowledge the glimmers isn't just nice. I think it's a necessity. I think that it's actually an act of self care that [00:08:00] roots us in the present and reminds us of the joy already in our lives. You know, even if I think about this year, a client of mine this year sold her business. And initially she was, It's a little bit disappointed that the sale didn't actually bring in the financial windfall that she'd imagined.
But as we reflected, we reframed the story that she was telling herself, because actually as we reflected. On the business that she had built over two decades, and we asked and unpacked what that business had actually gifted. The reframe was incredible because that business had gifted her a beautiful home, her children's education, getting through a divorce.
Unforgettable holidays and a flexible lifestyle. Among so many other things. It wasn't just a business. It was the foundation, or had been the foundation, to help her create [00:09:00] an absolutely brilliantly extraordinary life. You know, how often do we do this? How often do we focus on what didn't happen, instead of saying thank you for what did?
Your glimmers remind you to shift that perspective. Now here's something I will be doing on New Year's Eve. I do it every single New Year's Eve. It's a ritual of mine and I do it before I head out for any celebrations. I take a moment, I grab my journal and I do that scrolling through my phone photos exercise. I sit and I go through it month by month, looking at my photos, reliving those moments that mattered.
And without fail, this exercise puts a massive smile on my face. As I write down in my journal. January, February, March, right through to December and against those months, I note down the glimmer moments [00:10:00] that have happened over the course of the 12 months that have been. It grounds me in gratitude and it reminds me how much I've actually grown, how much I've experienced, how much I've actually achieved.
Why don't you give that a go? Why don't you start your own ritual this New Year's Eve and begin by setting that time aside. this week, put the time in your diary so you don't forget on the 31st of December and set that time aside to go through your phone and like I do every single month, jot down those glimmers that stand out for you.
Notice how your energy shifts, the simple act of reflecting on all of these joyful moments over the last 12 months can make you change your feelings about the entire year. And instead of that feeling of, Oh my God, this year has raced past. Where's it gone? This actually slows the year down. It actually allows you to reflect.[00:11:00]
On all the incredible things that you have done every single month of this last year. And as we close out this year, I want to remind you of something. You are amazing. This year has been filled with glimmer moments that are proof of your resilience, of your growth, of your brilliance. Please take some time to celebrate them, to celebrate you.
And as we step into a brand new year, let's keep this practice alive. Let's every single month notice the glimmers, they're not just small moments, they're stepping stones to a joyful, fulfilling life. And if you reflect on your glimmers, I'd really love to hear about them from you, send me a message.
Comment on the bottom of this podcast, email me directly, find me on the socials. I'd love to hear about your [00:12:00] glimmer moments, and I'd love to celebrate those glimmer moments with you. Let's celebrate together, have a truly remarkable end of 2024. And until next time, look after yourself, keep finding those glimmers and keep unleashing the truly brilliant individual that you are.