The stock market has been causing quite the panic lately, as prices have fallen sharply in recent weeks. The S 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) is currently down by nearly 6% since mid-July, and many investors are worried it's only going to get worse from here.

To be clear, there's no way of knowing exactly what the market will do in the short term. Stocks could fall further, or this may end up being a short-lived slump with the worst already behind us.

The uncertainty of the market can often be the hardest part as an investor, so it's normal to feel unnerved. But downturns can also be smart investing opportunities, as stocks are essentially on sale right now. By investing during the market's rough patches, you can set yourself up for potentially lucrative gains during the recovery period.

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Source Fool.com