Glimmers & Triggers: A Path to Nervous System Healing

In the journey of personal growth, understanding your nervous system is essential. Deb Dana, a leading voice in Polyvagal Theory, introduced two transformative concepts — glimmers and triggers — that can change the way you experience life. At Pesona Jiwa, we integrate these principles into our luxury mental health retreats in Bali, helping you regulate your nervous system and reclaim inner peace.

What Are Glimmers? https://www.rhythmofregulation.com/glimmers
Glimmers, as described by Deb Dana, are small moments that signal safety, joy, and connection. These are the cues that tell your nervous system, “You are safe, you can relax.”
Examples of glimmers include:

The warmth of the sun on your skin

A genuine smile from a loved one

The sound of gentle ocean waves

The fragrance of fresh flowers in the air

These moments activate the ventral vagal state, fostering calmness, emotional balance, and deeper human connection. At Pesona Jiwa, we help you identify and cultivate more glimmers in your daily life.

What Are Triggers?
Triggers are cues that activate your body’s survival responses — often without conscious thought. They can send you into sympathetic (fight/flight) or dorsal vagal (shutdown) states.
Common triggers might be:

A raised voice

Sudden changes in plans

Being ignored or dismissed

A familiar sound, smell, or memory

Understanding your triggers is not about avoiding them completely — it’s about recognising them and learning the tools to regulate your nervous system in the moment.

Why Glimmers and Triggers Matter for Healing
Both glimmers and triggers are part of your body’s ancient protective wiring. By recognising them, you move from reactivity to choice. At Pesona Jiwa, we use Polyvagal-informed therapy, somatic work, and Balinese spiritual healing to help you:

Map your personal glimmers and triggers

Build nervous system resilience

Reduce anxiety, burnout, and emotional overwhelm

Deepen your capacity for joy and connection

The Pesona Jiwa Approach
Our private retreat — The Sacred Soul Retreat — is designed to guide you through this process with the support of experienced therapists and healers.

Your personalised retreat may include:

Polyvagal-informed psychotherapy based on Deb Dana’s work

taVNS (transcutaneous auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation) to aid nervous system regulation

Balinese ancestral healing ceremonies for spiritual alignment

Yoga, meditation, and mindfulness practices to restore calm

Nutritional and physical wellness to support holistic recovery

Begin Your Nervous System Reset
If you’ve been feeling burnt out, anxious, or disconnected, exploring your glimmers and triggers could be the first step toward lasting transformation.
At Pesona Jiwa, we offer more than a retreat — we provide a sanctuary where science meets soul. Here, you can restore balance, reconnect with yourself, and return to life with renewed clarity.

📅 Your transformation begins here.
🌿 Discover our Sacred Soul Retreat in Bali: View Retreat Details

Reserve your private consultation today and let us design your personalised pathway to peace.

About the Author

Matt Little, M.A., Dip Couns, MBACP, AP APM, ICAP I, PVI Certified is a psychotherapist, addiction specialist, and Clinical Director of Pesona Jiwa in Bali, Indonesia.

With more than 15 years of experience in counselling, psychotherapy, addiction treatment, trauma recovery, and nervous system regulation, Matt specialises in helping individuals experiencing burnout, chronic stress, addiction, emotional numbness, anxiety, trauma, and nervous system dysregulation.

He holds a Master’s Degree with Distinction in Counselling & Psychotherapy Practice, is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP), an International Certified Addiction Professional (ICAP I), an Advanced Practitioner Member of Addiction Professionals (AP APM), and a Polyvagal-Informed Practitioner (PVI Certified) through the Polyvagal Institute under the work of Dr Stephen Porges.

His work integrates evidence-based psychotherapy with contemporary understandings of trauma, attachment, addiction recovery, behavioural change, and autonomic nervous system functioning. Through his clinical work and writing, Matt aims to make complex psychological and nervous system concepts accessible, practical, and clinically accurate.

Learn more about Matt Little and his clinical approach.

Explore Related Resources

If you are interested in learning more about nervous system regulation, trauma recovery, burnout, addiction, and emotional wellbeing, you may find these resources helpful:

Glimmers & Triggers: A Path to Nervous System Healing