Let's be honest — market selloffs don't feel like opportunities when they're happening.

They feel like chaos. Watching your portfolio turn red and wondering if the market knows something you don't is never fun. But while short-term traders panic and headlines turn gloomy, long-term ASX share investors have a very different lens.

Because if history is any guide, moments like this are often when the seeds of future wealth are sown.

The recent market volatility — fuelled by global trade tensions, and rising economic uncertainty — has knocked ASX shares down materially from their highs. But underneath the surface, many high-quality companies haven't changed. Their earnings are still strong. Their balance sheets are still solid. And their long-term growth stories are still intact.

They're just cheaper now.

The beauty of lower ASX share prices

One thing the market doesn't shout about during a downturn is that when prices fall, future returns improve.

Buying great ASX shares at lower valuations means you get a bigger slice of future earnings for your dollar. Dividends look more attractive. Growth becomes more affordable. And compounding works faster in your favour.

It is not about timing the bottom perfectly — it is about being brave enough to invest when others hesitate.

Time in the market always beats timing it

Unfortunately, no one rings a bell at the bottom of a market. And those who wait for everything to feel safe again usually end up buying later — and paying more.

That's why long-term investors often lean into weakness rather than shy away from it. If your investing horizon is five, ten, or twenty years, a market pullback isn't a reason to retreat — it is a reason to lean in.

Some of the best ASX shares are on sale

Right now, some of the highest-quality ASX and global shares are trading at significant discounts to their recent highs.

Whether it's tech leaders like TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE), healthcare powerhouses like Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH), or even ASX ETFs like Betashares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ), there's no shortage of strong businesses temporarily caught in the storm.

These businesses haven't broken. Sentiment has. And for long-term investors, that disconnect can be a gift.

Foolish takeaway

It never feels easy in the moment, but some of the best investments I've made started during selloffs — when confidence was low and prices were falling.

This market dip could be one of those moments. And while we can't control what happens next, we can control how we respond.