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:
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.
