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| Hope in the Growth Stage: Optimism About the Future |
Hope in the Growth Stage: Optimism About the Future
In the final stage of recovery there is a sense of optimism and the promise of a rewarding future. For some people, keeping a positive focus involves commitment to a particular goal, however, for others it is a matter of maintaining a positive attitude regarding moving forward in their recovery (Young and Ensing, 1999).
In the final stage of recovery there is a sense of optimism and the promise of a rewarding future. For some people, keeping a positive focus involves commitment to a particular goal, however, for others it is a matter of maintaining a positive attitude regarding moving forward in their recovery (Young and Ensing, 1999).
Mead and Copeland (2000) sum up the overall change in attitude from hopelessness to hopefulness that is characteristic of successful recovery:
There is hope. A vision of hope that includes no limits. . . . It is only when we believe that we are fragile and out of control that we find it hard to move ahead. (Mead and Copeland, 2000, p. 317)
While the Rebuilding stage represents getting life ‘back on track’, the Growth stage is characterized by looking ahead from this platform towards the future. The skills that have been nurtured during the Rebuilding stage can now be applied with confidence:
Therapists will say that a move to another city to go to graduate school is about a 10 on the stressor scale. I know this all too well. I also know that I have the tools to manage this life event. (Greenblat, 2000, p. 245)
Young and Ensing (1999) reported that, in the final recovery phase, the person strives ‘to reach new potentials of higher functioning’ (p. 227). This is expressed by Weingarten (2005; see Chapter 6) when he describes how his three recovery strategies contributed to his personal growth. He writes: ‘Using these strategies and working hard every day I’ve found is rewarded with new skills, including discipline, greater self-confidence and self esteem, better social interactions, job satisfaction and the joy of self fulfilment’ (p. 79). Chovil (2005), also describes the fruits of his recovery efforts:
I would never have believed fourteen years ago that I would be enjoying the quality of life I have now. I have a home, a job, a car, and fairly good health. I’ve won national, provincial and municipal awards . . .. I was surprised given the stigma of mental illness, that any community would recognize someone with schizophrenia for their contribution to the community. (p. 71)
Snyder et al. (2006) highlighted the role of an orientation towards future goals in successful rehabilitation. They found that focusing on negotiating pathways to the desired future leads to enhanced physical and mental wellbeing in recovery from losses caused by injury and physiological conditions. The perceived attainability of goals, and making progress towards goals, has been associated with subjective wellbeing (Emmons, 1986; Brunstein, 1993). The successes achieved in the Rebuilding stage engender further agency and positive attitudes, which continue to drive the recovery process. Mary, a participant in a large New Zealand study of recovery (Lapsley, Nikora and Black, 2002), stated, ‘I know now what my work is and . . . I’m not sure how I’ll do it for the rest of my life, but I know I will do it’ (p. 91). This statement reflects the spirit of optimism and vision of the future that characterizes the Growth stage.
While a general goal of ‘getting better’ does not provide a great deal of inspiration for recovery, envisaging a valuable benefit of getting better can be a powerful motivator (Snyder et al., 2006). Self-transcendent, or higher-order, goals such as reaching out to others, and spiritual goals, have been associated with greater subjective wellbeing and recovery from loss and trauma (Emmons, Colby and Kaiser, 1998). Schmook (1994) vividly illustrates a future-oriented, self-transcendent goal:
As I stated when I was in the mental hospital, I made up my mind that I would get better and that I would help others know that they could too . . .. I am developing a speaking business to promote mental health and to educate and train professionals, patients, families, communities, corporations, and religious organizations . . .. I look forward to the opportunity to provide my service on a national level and, one day, internationally as well. (p. 3)
The most rewarding goals are not always extrinsic goals representing occupation or other accomplishments. After listing many educational, vocational and recreational achievements, Cloutier (1994) was especially delighted with his restored relationships with his family and his many new friends: ‘I feel vibrant, happy and alive!’ (p. 34).
Hopeful thinking, that is, finding pathways around obstacles to goals, and the agency to negotiate such pathways, promotes ‘optimal levels of functioning and satisfaction’ (Snyder et al., 2000, p. 262). Snyder and colleagues suggest that in moving from a prevention approach to an enhancement approach, hopeful thinking moves towards building on strengths to reach ‘peak levels of functioning and wellbeing’ (p. 262). They discuss the role of hope in the secondary enhancement of psychological wellbeing. While primary enhancement refers to the role of hope in achieving optimal functioning and satisfaction, secondary enhancement furthers this to optimal levels of wellbeing. This is achieved by finding meaning in life through the pursuit of self-actualizing or self-transcendent goals (Snyder et al., 2000). Quotes from the Growth stage reflect this concept of secondary enhancement.
There is hope. A vision of hope that includes no limits. . . . It is only when we believe that we are fragile and out of control that we find it hard to move ahead. (Mead and Copeland, 2000, p. 317)
While the Rebuilding stage represents getting life ‘back on track’, the Growth stage is characterized by looking ahead from this platform towards the future. The skills that have been nurtured during the Rebuilding stage can now be applied with confidence:
Therapists will say that a move to another city to go to graduate school is about a 10 on the stressor scale. I know this all too well. I also know that I have the tools to manage this life event. (Greenblat, 2000, p. 245)
Young and Ensing (1999) reported that, in the final recovery phase, the person strives ‘to reach new potentials of higher functioning’ (p. 227). This is expressed by Weingarten (2005; see Chapter 6) when he describes how his three recovery strategies contributed to his personal growth. He writes: ‘Using these strategies and working hard every day I’ve found is rewarded with new skills, including discipline, greater self-confidence and self esteem, better social interactions, job satisfaction and the joy of self fulfilment’ (p. 79). Chovil (2005), also describes the fruits of his recovery efforts:
I would never have believed fourteen years ago that I would be enjoying the quality of life I have now. I have a home, a job, a car, and fairly good health. I’ve won national, provincial and municipal awards . . .. I was surprised given the stigma of mental illness, that any community would recognize someone with schizophrenia for their contribution to the community. (p. 71)
Snyder et al. (2006) highlighted the role of an orientation towards future goals in successful rehabilitation. They found that focusing on negotiating pathways to the desired future leads to enhanced physical and mental wellbeing in recovery from losses caused by injury and physiological conditions. The perceived attainability of goals, and making progress towards goals, has been associated with subjective wellbeing (Emmons, 1986; Brunstein, 1993). The successes achieved in the Rebuilding stage engender further agency and positive attitudes, which continue to drive the recovery process. Mary, a participant in a large New Zealand study of recovery (Lapsley, Nikora and Black, 2002), stated, ‘I know now what my work is and . . . I’m not sure how I’ll do it for the rest of my life, but I know I will do it’ (p. 91). This statement reflects the spirit of optimism and vision of the future that characterizes the Growth stage.
While a general goal of ‘getting better’ does not provide a great deal of inspiration for recovery, envisaging a valuable benefit of getting better can be a powerful motivator (Snyder et al., 2006). Self-transcendent, or higher-order, goals such as reaching out to others, and spiritual goals, have been associated with greater subjective wellbeing and recovery from loss and trauma (Emmons, Colby and Kaiser, 1998). Schmook (1994) vividly illustrates a future-oriented, self-transcendent goal:
As I stated when I was in the mental hospital, I made up my mind that I would get better and that I would help others know that they could too . . .. I am developing a speaking business to promote mental health and to educate and train professionals, patients, families, communities, corporations, and religious organizations . . .. I look forward to the opportunity to provide my service on a national level and, one day, internationally as well. (p. 3)
The most rewarding goals are not always extrinsic goals representing occupation or other accomplishments. After listing many educational, vocational and recreational achievements, Cloutier (1994) was especially delighted with his restored relationships with his family and his many new friends: ‘I feel vibrant, happy and alive!’ (p. 34).
Hopeful thinking, that is, finding pathways around obstacles to goals, and the agency to negotiate such pathways, promotes ‘optimal levels of functioning and satisfaction’ (Snyder et al., 2000, p. 262). Snyder and colleagues suggest that in moving from a prevention approach to an enhancement approach, hopeful thinking moves towards building on strengths to reach ‘peak levels of functioning and wellbeing’ (p. 262). They discuss the role of hope in the secondary enhancement of psychological wellbeing. While primary enhancement refers to the role of hope in achieving optimal functioning and satisfaction, secondary enhancement furthers this to optimal levels of wellbeing. This is achieved by finding meaning in life through the pursuit of self-actualizing or self-transcendent goals (Snyder et al., 2000). Quotes from the Growth stage reflect this concept of secondary enhancement.
