Human condition indeed. All I can add is, and don't let the ideals of interrogating cliches interrupt this thought, but the very thing that we as people despair over is a source for magnificent acts, and in performing these, is the very thing that makes us most vulnerable. So when we manage to achieve a high level of cognitive dissonance, lets not just go and rationalize it all away (incorrectly I might add), but let's open ourselves to something more and we might just find ourselves on the opposite side of despair.
Sorry to be all magical/mystical towards the end bit there but I dont know what the right words are for my own recent experiences that are hardly unique and probably documented by someone, somewhere, already.