Have you experienced that dark feeling in your gut with your divorce? I call it divorce fear.

Fear is a nasty four-letter word that wreaks havoc in the hearts of many a divorcing or divorced woman. It comes with questions like:

• Will I have enough money to live on my own?
• Will I be able to keep the house?
• Will my children be ok?
• Will I ever be in a relationship again?
• Will I ever stop loving my ex?
• Will the pain ever go away?
• Will I be able to handle all the day-to-day responsibilities by myself?
• Will I have any money to retire with?
• Will I ever be happy living alone?
• Will I be attracted again to the same type of man who hurt me?

It’s no secret that the process of separating from a partner and starting a new life alone can be daunting, overwhelming, and scary. The fear of the unknown can create an endless list of worries, doubts, and concerns that can make it difficult to move forward with confidence and clarity.

But the good news is that there are ways to overcome divorce fear, and to approach this challenging time with strength, resilience, and hope. I call these the “Enemies of Divorce Fear.”

Information

One of the most effective ways to combat divorce fear is to gather accurate information about the divorce process, your financial situation and your legal rights and responsibilities. This can help you feel more in control and less overwhelmed by the unknown.

Financial fears are a common concern during divorce, and not knowing where you stand can be a source of great anxiety. However, by gathering critical financial documents and information, such as tax returns, bank statements, and more, you can get a clear picture of your financial situation and take steps to protect your financial future. You can do this yourself, or work with a Divorce Coach or Certified Divorce Financial Analyst to help you understand where you stand.

Taking Action

Taking action is another powerful antidote to divorce fear. This might mean finding a support group, reading a book, or listening to a podcast on divorce to learn more about the process and how to navigate it successfully.

It can also be unrelated things like doing artwork, cleaning a closet, or taking a walk. Helping other people can also be a powerful way to combat divorce fear, as it can give you a sense of purpose and fulfillment and remind you that you’re not alone.

Faith

Faith in something bigger than oneself can provide comfort and hope during difficult times. This might mean turning to a religious belief or a sense of purpose that gives you strength and resilience. It doesn’t mean just sitting back and waiting for good things to happen, but rather trusting in a plan or force or whatever you believe in and doing the footwork and overall work in the process.

For example, if you fear that you won’t find a loving relationship, the footwork might be to do the growth work on yourself, such as becoming the kind of person someone would want to be in a relationship with, or working to develop a robust life you truly enjoy living on your own.

Peace of Mind

Finally, finding ways to cultivate peace of mind can help you manage your anxiety and reduce the impact of divorce fear on your life. This might include self-care practices like yoga, tapping, journaling, practicing gratitude, or spending time in nature. Being at the ocean or mountains or wherever your special place is can also be incredibly soothing.

Even if you can’t physically be there, visualizing yourself being there can be very calming and relaxing. These practices can help you recharge your batteries, find relaxation and peacefulness, and give you the energy you need to face life’s challenges.

Antidotes to Fear Are Available to You

In conclusion, divorce fear is a natural and understandable response to a difficult and challenging life transition. It comes with one of the most painful and stressful times in your life. Don’t sit in this fear because it can have damaging consequences to your emotions and your health.

However, there are powerful antidotes to this fear, including gathering accurate information, taking action, having faith in something bigger than oneself, and cultivating peace of mind. By using these tools, you can approach divorce with confidence, strength, and resilience, and create a new life that is fulfilling, joyful, and abundant.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you want to rid yourself of divorce fear? Do you want to decrease your divorce anxiety by reducing your fear? Are you ready for a new way of dealing with your divorce?

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

You know those beauty filters on Instagram stories or Snapchat where they give your cheeks an overly blushed hue and your lips so much pout, you look like you received injections? Somehow, they always make lashes look perfect. They have a body, length and richer color to them that seems unobtainable. Given that it’s a filter that portrays unrealistic beauty standards, you’d think everything it does is impossible, but I think I found a mascara that actually outshines the false appearance.

It’s Maybelline New York’s Lash Sensational Mascara, a drugstore product that’s garnered more than 81,000 perfect ratings on Amazon. Reviewers credit it for transforming the appearance of their lashes thanks to a unique spoolie head that has a curved design to it. The semi-circle shape allows the mascara to act as an eyelash curler and makeup product all at once. It shapes and elongates lashes in just a few strokes, while the washable black coat defines them.

“This mascara checks ALL the boxes!” wrote one five-star reviewer. “Best on the market! Trust me! You will love it as much as I do! I can’t say enough just try it!  Don’t get lash extensions before you try this!”

Dozens of shoppers have compared the effects of this mascara to that of eyelash extensions. Regardless of if their natural lashes are thin, straight, unruly or fragile, each reviewer seems to agree that this mascara is “magic.” It usually retails for $12, but you can get it on sale for $7 (the lowest price we’ve ever seen) at Amazon right now. Be sure to sign up for a Prime membership to get extra fast shipping.

RELATED: This $11 Anti-Aging Retinol Face Oil Is So Good, One Shopper Started ‘Going Without Makeup’—Grab It Before It Sells Out Again

Courtesy of Maybelline.

“If you are reading this, you have just stumbled upon the BEST MASCARA in the entire universe!” exclaimed another reviewer. “I hardly ever write reviews but this mascara deserves it. It lasts all day long! I never have to touch it up! I never find annoying black flakes under my eye since using this! AND this is a waterproof mascara that is actually waterproof!”

There’s nothing better than a fan-favorite buy, especially when it costs just $7 a pop. Think about all of the other pricier mascaras that you’ve tried only to be disappointed by. This one and its 4.5-star average rating basically comes with a guarantee that it’s worth the minimal purchase.

The spoolie head clings onto each individual lash to layer over them with jusssst enough product so that the hairs are highlighted and heightened, but not clumpy. Each brush head has ten layers of bristles that fan out lashes in an incredibly dramatic and impressive way. Those who often get eye irritation or tears when they use a mascara can rest assured knowing that reviewers with similar experiences dub this product A-OK to use.

“I have SUPER sensitive eyes and a love for mascara. I’ve tried so many mascaras over the years (drug store, high-end brands at Sephora, natural brands) and all of them have either underperformed, started really bothering my eyes or often both,” wrote one reviewer. “This mascara has a surprisingly clean ingredient list on EWG cosmetic database (more so the $25 tube of mascara I had been using for 5+ years before it started bothering my eyes). For such a cheap mascara, it has really surprised me on how clean it is, good it feels on my eyes so far and how amazing the look is.”

For best results, layer the product on a few times for a noticeable change. This mascara is so effective that a single swipe will make a difference, so if you’re into more of a natural look, consider this your one-stop solution.

Friendship, while as unique as its individual participants, usually includes the elements of love, kindness, humor, flexibility, reciprocity, and compromise. Since these are common elements of any good relationship, how does friendship differ?

Feeling the difference is easier than putting it into words. Friendship is a sweet spot that includes the ideal balance of intimacy and distance. The atmosphere is lighter than a relationship with a family member or a significant other. The friendship zone usually contains less judgement and fewer expectations, thus more space to thrive.

My relationship with my best friend is a wickedly fun and nostalgic place where we can both truly relax, laugh out loud (we’re talking belly laughs with tears), and be with life. I also love that no matter how long it’s been since we last connected, we seamlessly pick up right where we left off.

A Healthy Friendship Is Good for You

Having a good friend may become even more important as we age. The article The Healing Power of Friendship Grows with Age reports that as you get older, a good friend can help dispel loneliness, improve your health, boost your sense of wellbeing, and even add to your years. Aging can be challenging, and a good friend can help you negotiate those challenges.

If circumstance finds you without a good friend, consider a few ways that could help you kindle a new friendship. Volunteering, joining an exercise class, or joining a group with which you share a common hobby are all good options. Also, travel tours, attending church, or getting brave and striking up a conversation with a stranger are other possibilities.

I consider myself lucky to have a lifelong friend who I dearly love. This year we are celebrating 58 years of friendship (and still counting). The following is a snapshot of the love, humor, joy, pain, support, and wisdom that is the gift of our friendship.

Quality Companionship Sweetens Life

Two little girls met at age four and planted seeds of friendship that continue to endure today. We quickly became the best of friends; me shy, her more outgoing. We were inseparable partners in curiosity, creativity, and crime. Her house was catty-cornered from mine, and we spent many summer days of our childhood playing from dawn to dusk, breaking only for a quick lunch and dinner.

We attended elementary through high school together, navigating classes, teachers, extracurricular activities, and boys. Both of us were cheerleaders in middle school and later members of our high school drill team. However, she won the prize for flexibility since she could (and still can) place her leg behind her head!

We forged priceless memories during many snow skiing trips to New Mexico with her family. Long road trips from Texas to our destination included lots of singing and harmonizing to Neil Diamond classics, as well as those of other popular artists. Helen Reddy was our hero, and we theatrically belted out her anthem ‘I Am Woman’ because, well, we were strong and we were invincible!

Giggling was common on those road trips, and we found ourselves frequently shushed by her mom when her dad anxiously tried to set the cruise control on their Chevy Suburban. That option was becoming popular then, but still imperfect and quite finicky. Setting it required her dad’s full attention, our silence, and several jerky attempts before successful engagement!

Friendship Provides Love and Support Through Thick and Thin

Our 58-year-old friendship has survived most other relationships in our lives. It’s seen us through thick and thin and continues to serve as a source of love and support. Over the years, it was witness to four weddings and three divorces between the two of us.

It’s supported us through many losses, including the untimely death of my 2^nd husband, diagnosed with kidney cancer. We’ve shared the pain and sadness that comes with parents suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. We’ve cried through the funerals of 3 of those parents and watched their caskets lowered into the earth.  

Thank goodness there was lots of fun and laughter along the way! By the grace of God, we raised amazing children, she a son and me two daughters. Now we get to watch them parent while we unapologetically spoil our grandchildren! We also have the best time when we travel together, albeit not as often as we’d like.

The Humor and Laughter Shared in Friendship Is Good for the Soul

There’s no one else who shares the same twisted and ridiculous sense of humor as my best friend and me! I can’t count the number of times we were (and sometimes still are) guilty of laughing at inappropriate things or at inappropriate times. I don’t know where that comes from, but it is the glitter glue binding our relationship!

Serious moments at the movies were especially fertile ground for this behavior when we were teens. The two of us sitting side by side with our bodies shaking uncontrollably as we tried to subdue our laughter during a serious movie scene as the rest of the audience sat in silence. We didn’t dare make eye contact for fear of howling out loud!

Life Presents a Variety of Friendship Types

Friendships come in several varieties, but all should serve as a compliment to life rather than making it more difficult. Are you taking part in any friendships you do not enjoy or that no longer align with your values and lifestyle? If your answer is yes, perhaps it’s time to bid them a kind farewell.

Though true at any age, for those of us 60 and beyond, healthy friendship may especially be key in supporting our health and wellbeing. I look forward to reading your comments about just how impactful friendship has and continues to be in your life!

Let’s Have a Conversation

Do you have a lifelong best friend? What is your most cherished memory with that friend? Any tips for meeting new friends? How is friendship in your 60s and beyond different from friendship when you were younger?

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

If you’ve taken a single scroll on the makeup side of TikTok, there’s a 99.99% chance that you’ve heard of Charlotte Tilbury’s Beauty Highlighter Wand. The craze began when singer Madison Beer revealed in a Vogue makeup tutorial that the product makes her feel like a “forest nymph” and a “fairy” with the supernatural, sculpted glow it achieves. Calling it ‘viral’ feels like a complete understatement, as the product has sold out multiple times. But with the price tag being $42, some people (like me) just can’t justify spending so much on one product. Luckily, we don’t have to break the bank thanks to Beauty Pie’s Triple Beauty Luminizing Highlighter Wand.

A+ makeup products don’t need to come at a high price, and Beauty Pie proves that point with their version of the highlighter wand. The vegan, fragrance-free cream formula, easily dispensed and applied with their soft sponge applicator, contains soft-blur microspheres and UltraGlow coated pearls that offer a natural-looking glow without glitter. For an all-over radiant look, mix the highlighter into your foundation. Or, if you prefer a more contoured look, sweep the product along the tops of your cheekbones, down the center of your nose, to the inner corners of your eyes, and then at the arch of your browbones. The highlighter can even be worn alone for those no-makeup makeup days, a la Hailey Bieber.

RELATED: Cameron Diaz Swears By This Multi-Tasking Highlighter That Gives a ‘Glistening,’ ‘Dewy’ Look

Beauty Pie

Beauty Pie Triple Beauty Luminizing Highlighter Wand

In case you were wondering, the clock app community also gives their stamp of approval on this dupe. TikToker Kelsey Martin reviewed the brand’s Highlighter Wand, saying that Beauty Pie’s version “is slightly glowier” than Charlotte Tilbury’s. One reviewer echoed Martin’s thoughts, writing that the Highlighter Wand “gives that natural ‘lit from within’ look where applied.”

@rosalierouge

WE REALLY HAVE SOMETHING HERE #charlottetilbury #madisonbeermakeup #beautypie #makeupdupe #viralmakeup

♬ Juless Edits – Shou

“I bought this because it appeared similar to Charlotte Tilbury’s highlighting wand,” another Beauty Pie shopper says, “Honestly, I like this one better! It gives a gorgeous pink-toned highlight that is soft and luminizing.”

To get the super affordable $12 deal for the Highlighter Wand, sign up to be a member of Beauty Pie’s community. You’ll get access to discounted member prices on all their products (like this eyeliner that Michelle Obama previously used), exclusive product launches, and skin consultations. Plus, you get free shipping on every single order. For just $4.95 a month ($59 annually), that’s a steal!

To sweeten the deal, Beauty Pie is offering $10 off first orders (new members only) with code SPRING10. So, what are you waiting for? Be your best beauty babe on a budget self, and check out Beauty Pie’s Triple Beauty Luminizing Highlighter Wand ASAP.

Melissa Gorga’s Blue Strapless Twist Front Top Talking to Joe

Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 13 Episode 13 Fashion

Melissa Gorga was a babe in blue wearing her strapless twist front top hanging with the fam. And you don’t need to have honor roll student smarts like Antonia to know that this is a cute top. All you need to have is the knowledge that we’ve rounded up some Style Stealers of it below for you to get your hands on one just like it.

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

Click Here to See Her Susana Monaco Top

Originally posted at: Melissa Gorga’s Blue Strapless Twist Front Top