The stock market's already been through some ups and downs in 2023. But it's been more up than down. The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) is up by a couple of percentage points since the end of last year despite its recent stumble, and it is still up nearly 9% from October's low. The movement of late suggests that we are easing out of the bear market and into a new bull trend ... maybe.

Before we move any further into whatever awaits us, though, it might be worth a look back at last year's poor performance to glean a few lessons from the bear market. One of them stands out above the rest.

That lesson? It's a two-parter. First, know that nobody knows for sure when a bear market will end; it doesn't become clear until after the fact. And second, know that you absolutely don't want to be waiting on the sidelines at the time a new bull market gets underway. 

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Source Fool.com