If I look at life as a goal and imagine it in this earthly reality, then this perspective is really narrow. In a tight space one is anxious and unable to think of anything but suffers of phobia of anxiety. But if I consider life as an exam task that needs to be solved and after the exam I move on to college or to another space, then this phobia will be lifted. This does not mean that you can skip the exam and move on. That cannot be possible! By this I mean those who put an end to their lives or carry out tasks following the orders given by others that lead to the loss of their lives. Without an exam, the whole learning process becomes meaningless. It is failure. But the exam questions are asked by Allah and not by human!

Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere, (Quran 2:155)

Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, "We believe", and that they will not be tested? (Quran 29:2)

Mere lip profession of Faith is not enough. It must be tried and tested in the real turmoil of life. The test will be applied in all kinds of circumstances, in individual life and in relation to the environment around us, to see whether we can strive constantly and put Allah above Self. Much pain, sorrow, and self-sacrifice may be necessary, not because they are good in themselves, but because they will purify us, like fire applied to a goldsmith's crucible to burn out the dross.

A believer does not escape from the trial, the exam! An unbeliever may get away, but a believer will never. Whether what will be with an unbeliever, we cannot answer, but the path of a believer in the Hereafter is certainty. If there was no certainty, we would be not talking about a believer. This is the way to go and the fulfillment of the path so far. However, what is the method?
If you want a beautiful flower in your garden, the solution is not to sit down in front of the flower to pray or meditate. The flower will not respond the worships. On the other hand, it will appreciate sunlight, care, nutrients and good soil. If you understand what the flower needs and give it, you will enjoy its beauty. Everything has requirement what has to be fulfilled in life. It is not enough to pray for the family, we must struggle for it. It is not enough to pray for a good job, we have to learn and develop skills. It is not enough to wait for Divine answers from nowhere, we have to deal with our souls in order to get them. However, notice that if you cling vehemently to something, the opposite will come true. Because the human mind has a complex structure. If something is forced on it, it will throw that off. For example, just suppose that you are about to pray. But you are expecting a football match or a series on TV tonight. You decide not to think about the football match or the cooking show, because after all you are going to talk to Allah. The more you want to exclude TV shows from your consciousness, the more characteristically they will be present and suppress your prayer. This is true not only for prayer. Anything you do in life. But it also applies not to force your own thoughts on anybody else. Don't try to persuade others with all your efforts. If you do, a defense process will start automatically and throw away whatever you put on them.
Returning back to the exams and the trials. If you have experience how did prepare before for a school exam you know that you failed if you just concentrated and were worried in every minute of your preparation. If you take it easy, the result will be better. Take life easier with its afflictions and troubles. There are troubles everywhere, but by focusing on them, they multiply. And if you pass the exam, you can go further to the upper class, so it's not over! In fact, something is just beginning. Here is the meaning of the introductory phrase: to die with hope is better than to live hopelessly. The real opponent is the hopelessness that must be overcome, not the narrowness of life.