How to Calm Financial Anxiety: 3 Mindfulness Practices

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Please note the publish date of this blog. Financial information, market conditions, and other data mentioned in this post may no longer be accurate or relevant.

A couple of months ago, you might have said to yourself, “I’m worried about my knee. It hurts when I go down the stairs.” Today, bigger worries may fill your mind: concerns about job security, a volatile investment portfolio, or the uncertainty of what lies ahead. You might even look back on your earlier worries with a bit of nostalgia.

The recent financial and global uncertainties are a vivid reminder of a truth that’s always been with us: everything is impermanent. While change has always been part of life, both gains and losses, the reality of impermanence feels especially undeniable right now.

When we believe that the world shouldn’t be changing, the anxiety in our minds can increase. We cling to a belief that things should remain stable, predictable, and under control. But everything is in constant motion—our health, our thoughts, our jobs, our schools, and of course, the economy and the stock market. If we expect these things to only improve, we set ourselves up for deep disappointment. 

True peace comes from accepting the outer circumstances and choosing a wise response. Staying engaged in a productive way can help mitigate our anxiety. In the midst of today’s uncertainty, here are a few ways to transform this experience into an opportunity for growth:

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1. Befriend Your Fear

Instead of getting stuck in loops of fear about the economy or your future, turn your attention inward. Notice where and how you sense fear in your body.

Befriending your emotions can be a powerful tool for creating financial and emotional ease. In fact, fear can be a catalyst that helps us reconnect to our center, slow down, and develop equanimity—the quality of staying balanced and at ease with whatever arises. 

Equanimity can allow us to loosen our grip on fear, and surprisingly, in that loosening, we often recognize effective action.

2. Get Curious

Pain and discomfort invite us to take a closer look at what’s really going on. Maybe your portfolio has shrunk, but has your worth as a person diminished? Far from it. As you turn your awareness toward your intrinsic value—your creativity, resilience, and wisdom—your money worries may begin to soften.

Have the courage to feel your discomfort fully. Notice its texture, temperature, and how it shifts over time. Just as financial markets rise and fall, so do the sensations in our bodies and the emotions in our minds. Observing this ebb and flow can teach us that change is a constant, not just in markets, but in every aspect of life.

Thoughts can change even faster than stock prices. Given how quickly they come and go, how much weight should we give them? Instead of chasing each fearful thought, tune into the deeper wisdom that reminds you: everything is always changing. Markets have declined and recovered before—and they will again.

3. Be Generous

Understanding the nature of impermanence has inspired many to give—even during uncertain times. While it might feel counterintuitive to give when finances feel tight, generosity can be a powerful antidote to fear. It’s not the amount that matters most, but the act of letting go.

Generosity serves as a lighthouse during stormy times. It reminds your mind and heart that abundance is still possible, that connection matters, and that your security isn’t tied solely to your bank account. Community—our sense of belonging to and caring for each other—is one of our greatest sources of wealth.

Recognizing our interconnectedness can help to shrink the grip of fear and nurture true well-being. 

Finding Calm in an Ever-Changing World

You could choose to stay stuck in worry, stockpile resources, and wait anxiously for stability to return. Or you could choose a different path: one of awareness, curiosity, generosity, and inner strength.

As your life, finances, and work continue to change, may this be a time of deep inner growth and renewed connection—with yourself and with others.

Disclosure

Abacus Wealth Partners, LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of Abacus Wealth Partners, LLC by the SEC nor does it indicate that Abacus Wealth Partners, LLC has attained a particular level of skill or ability. This material prepared by Abacus Wealth Partners, LLC is for informational purposes only and is accurate as of the date it was prepared. It is not intended to serve as a substitute for personalized investment advice or as a recommendation or solicitation of any particular security, strategy or investment product. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Abacus Wealth Partners, LLC and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No advice may be rendered by Abacus Wealth Partners, LLC unless a client service agreement is in place. This material is not intended to serve as personalized tax, legal, and/or investment advice since the availability and effectiveness of any strategy is dependent upon your individual facts and circumstances. Abacus Wealth Partners, LLC is not an accounting or legal firm. Please consult with your tax and/or legal professional regarding your specific tax and/or legal situation when determining if any of the mentioned strategies are right for you.

Please Note: Abacus does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, and completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by an unaffiliated third party, whether linked to Abacus’ website or blog or incorporated herein, and takes no responsibility for any such content. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only and all users thereof should be guided accordingly.

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