Hope has previously been a construct more of interest to philosophy and religion than in psychology. New research has shown, however, that hope is closely related to optimism, feelings of control, and motivation toward achieving one's goals. The Handbook of Hope presents a comprehensive overview of the psychological inquiry into hope, including its measurement, its development in children, how its loss is associated with specific clinical disorders, and therapeutic approaches that can help instill hope in those who have lost theirs. A final section discusses hope in occupational applications: how the use of hope can make one a better coach, teacher, or parent. - Defines hope as a construct and describes development of hope through the lifespan - Provides multiple instruments for measuring hope - Guides professionals in how to assess hope levels & implement hope as part of therapy - Relates hope to all portions of the population - Includes case studies, figures, and tables to aid understanding of research findings and concepts; discusses the importance of hope to relationships, achieving goals, and success at work

Hope has long been a topic of interest for psychologists, philosophers, educators, and physicians. In the past few decades, researchers from various disciplines and from around the world have studied how hope relates to superior academic performance, improved outcomes in the workplace, and improved psychological and physical health in individuals of all ages. Edited by Matthew W. Gallagher and the late Shane J. Lopez, The Oxford Handbook of Hope provides readers with a thorough and comprehensive update on the past 25 years of hope research while simultaneously providing an outline of what leading hope researchers believe the future of this line of research to be. In this extraordinary volume, Gallagher, Lopez, and their expert team of contributors discuss such topics as how best to define hope, how hope is distinguished from related philosophical and psychological constructs, what the current best practices are for measuring and quantifying hope, interventions and strategies for promoting hope across a variety of settings, the impact it has on physical and mental health, and the ways in which hope promotes positive functioning. Throughout its pages, these experts review what is currently known about hope and identify the topics and questions that will help guide the next decade of research ahead.

Powerful, inspirational, hopeful tweets that encourage, motivate and speak to your spirit. We all want to feel happy and hopeful every day. And we're fascinated by others who seem to be. How do they do it? How can we do it, too? Maintaining a positive attitude can be challenging when we're often bombarded with negative thinking and alarming news headlines. Written for readers who are concerned about personal growth, The Hope Handbook focuses attention on YOU being in control of what you can control - your thoughts and your attitude. This book challenges you to take responsibility for your own happiness and change the way you allow negative thoughts to enter your mind. Is there hope? Yes. It is possible to be completely fulfilled in life. Understand that hope begets hope. The more uplifting and encouraging words you inhale, the more positive you become. Personal growth is directly related to what we think about and the types of messages we receive into our spirit. Therefore, you are what you read. This collection of insightful, empowering tweets is jammed with good advice, wise ideas, important reminders, and words of hope to carry you through your day, week, month and the rest of your life. Here's what you'll find: perspective, inspiration, insight and focus points to help you commit to set new achievable objectives leading you to greater happiness and prosperity. Here's wishing you lots of HOPE and much SUCCESS. Enjoy!

The New York Times bestseller from the author of Dusk, Night, Dawn, Hallelujah Anyway, Bird by Bird, and Almost Everything “Lamott’s …most insightful book yet, Stitches offers plenty of her characteristic witty wisdom…this slim, readable volume [is] a lens on life, widening and narrowing, encouraging each reader to reflect on what it is, after all, that really matters.”—People What do we do when life lurches out of balance? How can we reconnect to one other and to what’s sustaining, when evil and catastrophe seem inescapable? These questions lie at the heart of Stitches, Lamott’s profound follow-up to her New York Times–bestselling Help, Thanks, Wow. In this book Lamott explores how we find meaning and peace in these loud and frantic times; where we start again after personal and public devastation; how we recapture wholeness after loss; and how we locate our true identities in this frazzled age. We begin, Lamott says, by collecting the ripped shreds of our emotional and spiritual fabric and sewing them back together, one stitch at a time. It’s in these stitches that the quilt of life begins, and embedded in them are strength, warmth, humor, and humanity.

This open access volume makes an important contribution to the ongoing research on hope theory by combining insights from both its long history and its increasing multi-disciplinarity. In the first part, it recognizes the importance of the centuries-old reflection on hope by offering historical perspectives and tracing it back to ancient Greek philosophy. At the same time, it provides novel perspectives on often-overlooked historical theories and developments and challenges established views. The second part of the volume documents the state of the art of current research in hope across eight disciplines, which are philosophy, theology, psychology, economy, sociology, health studies, ecology, and development studies. Taken together, this volume provides an integrated view on hope as a multi-faced phenomenon. It contributes to the further understanding of hope as an essential human capacity, with the possibility of transforming our human societies.

Hopeful Message for the Days Ahead from a Bestselling Author The future of this planet has never looked bleaker . . . or brighter. The darkest time in all of history, as well as the most brilliant for the people of God, lies before us. Jesus' own words about the wheat and the weeds warn us of this: "Let both grow together until the harvest." In a hopeful, inspiring call to action, bestselling author and pastor Don Finto challenges believers the world over to become radical, God-empowering, miracle-working, people-rescuing followers of Jesus as the final harvest nears. Delving into Scripture, he shows how we can prepare for the exciting possibilities of the days ahead, including how to press into the light, shine more brightly in the deepening darkness, protect ourselves during the ultimate Passover, watch for the signs of Jesus' return, wrestle for victory, and more! Evil may be on the rise. But even greater is God's army--and our best days lie ahead.

Psychology has long been enamored of the dark side of human existence, rarely exploring a more positive view of the mind. What has psychology contributed, for example, to our understanding of the various human virtues? Regrettably, not much. The last decade, however, has witnessed a growing movement to abandon the exclusive focus on the negative. Psychologists from several subdisciplines are now asking an intriguing question: "What strengths does a person employ to deal effectively with life?" The Handbook of Positive Psychology provides a forum for a more positive view of the human condition. In its pages, readers are treated to an analysis of what the foremost experts believe to be the fundamental strengths of humankind. Both seasoned professionals and students just entering the field are eager to grasp the power and vitality of the human spirit as it faces a multitude of life challenges. The Handbook is the first systematic attempt to bring together leading scholars to give voice to the emerging field of positive psychology.