In times of collective anxiety, your steadiness can be a powerful force. That centered presence—whether on a refugee boat or in your community today—can create a viable path forward when everything seems chaotic.

So what if you use the turbulence in today’s world as the catalyst for you to shift from feeling overwhelmed, numb, scared, or just tired to feeling more engaged, protected, and centered? What’s an action you could take?

Maybe you restore your emergency fund, verify that your passport is valid, make sure your investments are super diversified beyond U.S. markets or dollar-denominated assets, go on retreat, start a fun exercise program, meditate (without an agenda) for 2 minutes per day, start a dinner club that activates your engagement, or do something that increases your resilience so you’re less likely to take a rash action, like sell all your investments.

On that last point, while our emotions might tempt us, the evidence suggests that selling everything has offered people an extremely low probability of success. The reason is that all the information is out there; everyone knows about the instability of our economy and government, and the prices of the real estate and stock markets already reflect that. For someone to benefit from selling all of their investments, that person would have to know something about the future that no one else knows. At the very least, discuss your ideas/fears with an objective advisor or accountant.

Hold yourself accountable for keeping your mind as clear and centered as possible in the coming months. This mental clarity is your best insurance policy during uncertain times. When markets fluctuate and headlines grow alarming, your ability to remain steady—like that one calm person on the refugee boat—becomes your greatest asset.

Christiana Figueres, a key player in the passing of the Paris Climate Agreement, said “If you don’t like the leadership, then become the leader you want.”

Remember that turbulence, while uncomfortable, offers us the opportunity to build a resilient mind. Choose one small action and commit yourself fully to it for one week. If you notice you’re less reactive and more resilient, commit to it for a month. This is the moment to create a mind that is wise and equanimous even if it feels like your house is on fire.

Cultivating a steady presence is your life raft in turbulent times.