Book chapter
Three Spheres of Hope: Generalised, Particularised and Transformative
Phoenix Rising from Contemporary Global Society, pp.1-14
Brill
2014
Abstract
Hope is common yet illusive quality which has fascinated academe for centuries. Theologians, philosophers, medical professionals, psychologists and others, have considered its strengths and limitations, each emphasising different aspects of hope. In the quest to understanding hope, nurse researchers have identified two qualitatively different spheres of hope, generalised and particularised. Generalised hope is a life attitude which expects the positive without goal focus while at the same time being grounded in reality. Particularised hope is goal focused and relies, to a large degree, on personal self-efficacy and resilience. Substantial research on these two spheres of hope as been conducted over the past thirty years. This research has explored a range of dimensions of hope within these two spheres including the cognitive, affective, affiliative, temporal and transpersonal, to name a few. This chapter not only explores these two spheres and related dimensions of hope but proposes a third sphere namely transformed hope. Transformative hope acknowledge the contribution of the other spheres of hope but goes beyond them. This sphere is best described as a hope which emerges out of active contemplation and reflection and allows for deeper self-awareness and awareness of otherness. By its nature it is integrative, providing space for the more diffuse generalised hope, and goal oriented particularised hope, while at the same time enabling a fundamental transformation of the self through non-dualistic thinking, reflectively and awareness. Transformative hope unearths our ontological and epistemological assumptions, providing opportunity for a realignment of our personal worldview. Hope always involves liminal space, the experience of the 'here but not yet'. Liminality is a call to enter mindful/contemplative consciousness and it is this state which potentially transforms our personal worldviews. The following discussion explores all three spheres of hope giving particular attention to the dimensions of transformative hope.
Details
- Title
- Three Spheres of Hope: Generalised, Particularised and Transformative
- Authors
- Denis O'Hara (Author) - 61USC_INST___ACAP
- Contributors
- Lisa Ortiz (Editor)Denis J O'Hara (Editor) - 61USC_INST___ACAP
- Publication details
- Phoenix Rising from Contemporary Global Society, pp.1-14
- Publisher
- Brill
- DOI
- 10.1163/9781848883345_002; 10.1163/9781848883345
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Law and Society; School of Social Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99665497702621
- Output Type
- Book chapter
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