As 2022 reminded investors, stocks can go down just as easily as they can rise in value. Last year, all three major U.S. stock indexes tumbled into a bear market, with the growth-centric Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) enduring the brunt of the pain (a 33% loss).

Although bear markets can be scary and somewhat unnerving, especially for new investors, they're a normal part of the long-term investing cycle. More importantly, they represent an opportunity to snag high-quality stocks at a discount. Don't forget, every previous correction and bear market in the Nasdaq Composite (and other indexes for that matter) have eventually been cleared away by a bull market. Being an optimist continually pays on Wall Street.

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Source Fool.com