Recently, we all saw the stock markets drop.  Some investors panicked.  Others set about looking at the fundamentals in companies in order to start investing in those that they knew would come back up.

It’s the same with people.

Today, with seismic changes in almost all aspects of our society occurring regularly, the sense of instability and shakiness are heightened in us all.  Most of us have heard about the famous “imposter syndrome” and yet  no matter what we’ve heard, we all still feel it sometimes and find ourselves worrying about when the world will find out the truth about our insecurities and worries.

As many wise investors find, in a falling and uncertain market there are significant opportunities to invest.   I believe that, in these uncertain times, you need to invest in yourselves and, in doing so, you lessen your instability by building a stronger core.      What are you doing to grow?  To stay updated?  To take time to reflect and understand the seismic changes going on in the world around you?

For me, developing a mindfulness practice – something so against my dynamic and action-oriented personality – had been a game changer.  I’m not a meditator – but by taking 30 seconds – a couple of minutes before each client session, meeting or even before sitting down and researching/writing articles, gives me a sense of focus, and stills the sensation of “being all over the place”.

Being centered, feeling purposeful, helps you become more accurate and succinct in your work….which reduces stress.

And what combats imposter syndrome?  Grounding.  Achieving more, and doing even “greater” things, will not quell imposter syndrome.  Only shifting your focus from external validation to internal grounding will.

Even the great Maya Angelou suffered from Imposter Syndrome: “I have written eleven books, but each time I think, ‘uh oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out.’ “

So what did she do?  When she started to panic, she worked on her core strengths and got better at them – by writing more.  So take a page out of her book: “write more” – invest in yourself.