Pessimism is rampant in the world
today, with good reason. Our health and, for many, financial well-being, are
severely at risk. Surely, there is nothing to be optimistic about.

If anything, optimism seems absurd in
the face of a worldwide pandemic or a personal health or financial crisis. More
to the point, why bother?

Because the best personal protection
you have – we all have – against the potential ravages of
COVID-19 (along with following the safety advice of the World Health
Organization), is a strong immune system. And optimists have astonishingly
robust immune systems.

This is not fanciful or wishful
thinking. Science has shown us repeatedly that
optimists thrive. Regardless of their life situations, optimists enjoy longer,
happier, healthier lives, much of which is predicated on their strong immune systems.

Becoming an Optimist

Contrary to popular belief, being an
optimist is not something you are necessarily born with. Some people are, of
course, but most of us are not. We can learn to be optimistic at any age, and
with that, reap the benefits.

As seniors, we owe it to ourselves
and our families to do whatever we can to remain strong and healthy. Developing
and increasing our optimism is a prime way to do just that. What’s more, optimism
is free, with no side effects, requiring no prescription, and can be done in
the solitude of our mind.

Feeling Grateful

The easiest, quickest way to access
optimism, and therefore to an enhanced immune system, is through appreciation. Appreciation,
in a nutshell, is valuing and feeling grateful for what is currently in your
life.

That does not mean that we should be
grateful for COVID-19. That would border on insanity. No, appreciation is recognition
of the good that does exist, of the resources you do have in your life, as
opposed to moaning and groaning over all that is missing.

For example, my dance classes are
currently canceled, along with my work, speaking engagements, and all other
activities involving people. But my dance classes are what hit the hardest.

Dance is what keeps me on a steady
even keel, balanced, and sane, and is great exercise. It’s the place where I
get to be fully myself without judgment, whether I’m being madly creative,
bumbling, or downright inept.

Did I spend the first couple of days
“moaning and groaning”? I most certainly did. But then I pulled myself up by my
metaphorical optimist’s bootstraps and got to work. I decided to appreciate the
Internet with its endless videos and found ballet workout sessions to follow
on-line.

I found ballroom videos I could study
and apply the techniques to my at-home practice. I appreciated how my fellow
dance students and I jumped into texting and emailing, face-timing, and skyping
to stay in touch.

For we are, as adults, more than just
students who come to class. We’re dance aficionados, a community of like-minded
individuals who love to go on endlessly about our mutual passion.

Optimism in the Face of Adversity

As unusual and unwanted as
self-isolation or forced quarantine may be, we are blessed with cyber resources
that didn’t exist through the world’s previous pandemics.

Universities are continuing courses
online. Our news comes to us via the Internet, as do our entertainment and
ability to stay in touch with loved ones.

No, I don’t enjoy this confined
existence. It’s antithetical to my social nature. But I can and do appreciate
the many ways in which I can make things better for myself, knowing my self-care
is also beneficial to the others in my community.

Keeping myself as healthy as I can
means one less source of contagion, one more hospital bed available to someone
who is ailing.

Optimism isn’t a cure-all. Yet if I
look at the situation with an optimistic mindset, appreciating that our
scientists, medical professionals, and our communities are doing the best they
can to resolve this situation as quickly as possible, I certainly don’t want
pessimism with its unfortunate consequences to get in the way.

Try an optimistic approach to
COVID-19 – your mind and body will thank you.

Have you tried new things or gotten
creative because of the restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus? What are
some of the enjoyable ways you now pass the time if you are in voluntary or
forced isolation? Please share your creative activities with our community!

This weekend is probably going to about the same as the last one. Since we’re still social-distancing, it’s all about finding ways to occupy ourselves at home. Tarte’s Friends & Family sale for spring 2020 might help keep your hands busy and save you some money at the same time. Whenever Tarte rolls out one of these sales, we’re able to stock up on foundation and concealer and even test a new product or two we haven’t seen before. All these goodies are up to 30 percent off.

As with any big beauty sale, some exclusions apply. You can’t use the Friends & Family discount on vaults, bundles, travel size, goodie grabs, Hannah Meloche x Sugar Tush Multi-Purpose Palette or the new Surfer Curl Volumizing Mascara. But there’s some seriously good news. Often, Shape Tape is excluded from the sale as well because it’s such a big seller. But not this time. Stock up the cult-favorite concealer while you grab the new Maracuja Tinted Hydrator or one of a bunch of colorful eyeshadow palettes that are sure to occupy your time indoors.

The sale runs from March 27 to April 1. Use code BESTIES for 25 percent off. If you’re a Tarte Rewards member, you’ll get 30 percent off with the same code. (It’s free to sign up.) We got you started with some of our favorites, below.

Image: Tarte.

Shape Tape Concealer

The vegan, waterproof, full-coverage formula is a favorite for a reason.

Image: Tarte.

Maneater Mascara

Curl and coat your lashes with intense black pigment.

Image: Tarte.

Busy Gal Goals Eye & Cheek Palette

With nine eyeshadow shades and two face colors.

Image: Tarte.

Maracuja Tinted Hydrator

This new tinted moisturizer is ultra-lightweight and hydrating.

Image: Tarte.

Maracuja Oil

This vegan face oil contains maracuja seeds for a burst of vitamin C and essential fatty acids.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Have you ever been a victim of your own thoughts?

If you are not sure, just think about the one or two or 50 nights when you were plagued by thoughts and constant thinking and you couldn’t shut down your mind and get to sleep. Or, you woke up in the middle of the night and you couldn’t go back to sleep.

Yes, indeed, you were a victim of your own thoughts.

Sometimes I think I am a victim of my thoughts all day long. And I ask myself why I can’t just let these thoughts go. Eliminate them from my mind and move on, move forward, move my thoughts sideways so I can get in front of what I’m my writing.

Okay, so a boyfriend broke up with you, your brother- in-law is a not a very nice person, your neighbor is noisy and annoying. How easy it should be to move negative thoughts out of your consciousness. But it’s not that easy.

Meditation as a Remedy

If letting thoughts go were so easy, there would be no sleeping medications on the market and that would be the end of insomnia. Of course, you can avail yourself of other remedies from the constant mind chatter: the best and the most effective, however, is meditation.

The other night I was plagued with thinking – yes, I was dumped by the ex-boyfriend – and the old story kept playing in my mind: I’m not good enough, I couldn’t make him see that I was the best thing for him since sliced cheese. You know how it goes.

So I decided to focus on my third eye that is right in the center of the brow. The third eye is a chakra, an energy point on the body. I bore into that third eye as if it were a lifeboat for survival. And I did it! I fell asleep – after being up for a couple of hours – and I woke refreshed. Why was I focused on that cad, anyway? It’s over and I’m done with it. Move those thoughts along, let them go like clouds passing.

Emotions and Dreaming

Your thoughts produce chemical changes in the brain. And what scares you the most are the negative thoughts that plague you and deny you peace. Thoughts usually come from emotional issues. Sometimes these emotional issues are very deep in the unconscious, and you don’t have access to them because they don’t surface often.

When you dream, however, if you can remember your dream(s), you will certainly discover what is truly bothering you. I discovered through a dream that I’m still very angry about the breakup with my ex-boyfriend and that unconscious anger keeps me up at night. My dream tied me to the emotional issue.

As a side note, a hint to remember dreams: When you first come into the awakening moment, don’t do anything. Lie in bed in stillness. You are somewhat asleep, somewhat awake, so draw yourself into your mind and see what activity was occurring in your brain during the night. Do this every morning for however long it takes until you begin to remember the dream activity.

Allowing the Authentic Self to Flourish

What’s at stake with all of us is our own vulnerability. When you are emotionally openly honest, there is an uneasy feeling, an uncertainty about life, even a fear about what’s going to happen to you in the future, or the present, or even the past when you made that decision to do or not to do something important in your life. But you are not the all-knowable, so you can’t and won’t carry around self-blame. It’s destructive and produces only more negativity.

It was my son who clued me into why I was having trouble letting go of my ex. He told me that I was afraid to grow old without someone. At 73 year of age, that struck me as honest and true. I had been strolling through life expecting that I would hold a man’s hand and carry his love into old age.

Well, maybe I don’t really want that as my future. Maybe I want another legacy for my life. The negative captured me and, of necessity, to ensure that my authentic self-flourishes, I reconfirmed and reconnect to my journey and I could let go.

If you are a victim of y our own thoughts, you are hiding in fear – fear that life won’t turn out the way you expected, fear of failure, fear that dark forces will take over your life. For as Brené Brown, renowned sociologist, author, and motivational speaker tells us in her book, Daring Greatly, we can dare greatly if we get a glimpse into vulnerability. Examine the path of your negative thoughts and shine the light on removing the mantle of being a victim, at least until tomorrow.

Here is the formula:

Meditate for 10 minutes, manage your thoughts, maintain your balance with good physical, emotional and social activities. It works!

Do you ever find that your fears or negative thoughts hold you back? What techniques do you use to find balance and acceptance? Have you tried meditation? Please share in the comments.

LuAnn de Lesseps Star Sweater on Instastories

Real Housewives of New York Instagram Fashion

Watch out Danielle Staub, the Countess is coming for you in kitchen! LuAnn de Lessps  took to the ‘Gram to share her simple pasta recipe with her followers. I must admit that the only thing that looked better than her star sweater was the resulting meal, which looked simple enough that even I could make it. But enough about that, this post is about her sweater, it’s not about the pasta.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Aqua Cashmere Star Sweater Sold Out

Click Here to Watch Her Cook

Originally posted at: LuAnn de Lesseps Star Sweater

Kameron Westcott’s Coral Lounge Outfit

Real Housewives of Dallas Instagram Fashion

Kameron Westcott looked super cute in coral on Instastories a few days back getting some fresh air with her kiddos and pup. And since I’m in the mood for a new, matching, comfy set after an unsuccessful attempt in which Express shipped me the top half of my sweatsuit and then later informed me there was no stock in the pants. So as I sit here in half a sweatsuit—don’t worry, I have pants on, they are just biker shorts—I might just have to scoop up Kameron’s coral lounge outfit in one of the available colors with a side of fuzzy slippers to stroll in.

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

Click Here to Shop her Eberjay Vera Slouchy Set in 3 Colors

Click Here to Shop a Very Similar Set in a Lighter Coral

Photo: @KameronWestcott

Originally posted at: Kameron Westcott’s Coral Lounge Outfit