It's been a tough year for investors, as stock prices continue to fall. The S&P 500 is down more than 24% from its peak in early January, and the Nasdaq and Dow Jones Industrial Average are also in bear market territory.

This type of volatility can be unnerving for even the most experienced investors, especially when there's no light at the end of the tunnel just yet.

While each bear market is different and nobody knows exactly how long this downturn will last, history can provide some hints -- and give us one important reason to be optimistic.

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Source Fool.com