Knowing you are innocent is extremely important. Compare it to knowing you are guilty.
Regardless of what people may say, you can sleep at night. Yes, maybe you toss and turn thinking about how unfair it all has been, but in the end, you know you’re right. And the truth will come out eventually.
I have been in this situation for the past year or so, and it has given me immense strength to know I never did anything wrong (either legally or morally). More and more people are now coming up to me to offer their support (my case is quite well-known in the place I am now). There are still those who are against me, but their are dwindling, both in numbers and in fervour.
You’ll see, things will only get better, and knowing you are innocent is the strongest weapon you can have.