On the one hand, few things can compare to the wonder of nature. It is simply awe-inspiring.

On the other hand, when we are feeling persistently down, angry, jealous or lonely, life can be pretty horrible and nothing seems to be able to change the feeling.

Pain is temporary. It is true but it is very hard to embrace when we are suffering.

For those of us who are less lucky, pain can strike frequently and we can't help but feel that life is just a series of suffering, in the past and in the future.

Reality does not care whether we are optimistic or pessimistic. People tell us to accept reality and move on. But how? Does it mean a more optimistic person learns to handle it by shrugging off the bad news and looking forward to the next good thing?

At some point in life, every optimist has faced something so unexpected that one can't help but despair.

The pessimist doesn't even have to try hard to be proven right. In a way, it might be reassuring to know that bad things will happen anyway, for which the pessimist might be better prepared psychologically.

Over the years I have alternated between optimism and pessimism, but neither could offer inner peace, because both views are seeking certainty when there is no such thing in life.

It takes spiritual growth to experience inner peace. I have always found it difficult to explain what is it and how to progress spiritually. In the coming series of posts I will attempt to summarise what I have learnt over the years in a manner that is easy to understand.