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THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT HOPE

THERE IS MORE GOOD NEWS IN THE WORLD THAN BAD

“Life is hope. Without hope there is no life.”– Rupesh Sreeraman 

On June 23rd 2018, after a regular soccer practice, 12 boys in Northern Thailand aged 11-16 and their 25-year-old assistant coach entered a cave, ostensibly to celebrate the birthday of one of the boys.

While they were there unexpected heavy monsoon rains arrived a month early, partially filling the cave with water and trapping the boys.

Seeing their bikes had been left by the entrance, the parents and officials correctly concluded they were in the cave.

It was not, however, until 10 days later on July 2nd after most hope had been lost that they were still alive that two divers, John Volanthen and Richard Stanton, located them. They were sitting on a ledge inside the cave, some 4 km from the entrance.

The divers arranged for food, a supply of air and communication devices to be delivered.  However, it would take another 6-8 days before the boys were rescued.

Diagram of the cave

The big question was: “How do we get the boys out before the next monsoon downpour, estimated to be 10 days away?” Complicating the decision making was the uncertainty of the boys’ health, knowledge that navigation through the labyrinth took 6 hours each way, the fact many of the boys could not swim and the extreme amount of muddy water made the tunnels very difficult to navigate.

Organizers considered drilling from the top, but finally decided to send more divers through the tunnels and caves and pump out some of the water.

In short order, an estimated 10,000 soldiers, medical people, politicians, communications specialists, parents, divers, volunteers and others from all over the world mobilized to do what they could in the rescue effort, while millions around the world were anxiously watching this drama unfold on TV, including yours truly.

The rescue was incredibly complicated and two divers died in the process? Why did people not just give up? The odds of finding and rescuing the boys and their coach seemed like an impossible task.

The answer was the HOPE everyone working together gave each other sustained them… not just the 1000s working outside the cave, but also those inside.

The HOPE inside the cave was created mainly by the assistant coach, a former Bhuddist Monk, 25-year-old Ekkaphon (EAK). 

EAK today is widely viewed as a hero. One parent said that he does not know how the boys would have survived without him.

Mongkhon Bunpiam, the father of a 12-year-old boy who was in the cave said, “The boys love  their coach. Coach Eak has been good to my boy and now I hear how he gave them hope and kept them calm for so many days without food.”

Among other things, he gave them some of the food they had taken in for the birthday celebration and instructed them to drink the relatively clean water dripping from the cave walls, rather than the murky water that entrapped them

It took 2 days once the actual rescue started until the last person came out. All were healthy and, except for their resulting celebrity status, all returned to a normal life.

To say HOPE kept everyone going and kept everyone alive is an understatement. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/thai-soccer-team-becomes-trapped-in-cave

WHAT  IS  HOPE?

There are several definitions. The Oxford dictionary defines HOPE as, “A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” 

Another definition is, “HOPE is an optimistic state of mind based on an expectation of positive outcomes related to events and circumstances in one’s life or the world at large.” 

Bishop Desmond Tutu says, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” 

Charles R. Snyder (no relation to myself), an eminent American Psychologist in the 1990s expanded the definition of HOPE and developed what he called, “The HOPE THEORY.” 

His definition: HOPE is the perceived ability to produce pathways to achieve desired goals and there is motivation to use these pathways. His HOPE THEORY says the person who has hope sees there is a will and a determination, that goals will be achieved and there are strategies in place to achieve the goal.

As it relates to the rescue, all of these were in place:

  1. There was a goal. Get the boys out safely.
  2. There was the will power and determination to carry it through. The coach and thousands of others each had their own goal, depending on their role in the rescue plan which was a part of a bigger goal. 
  3. There was a planned pathway which constantly had to be altered. The continuing hope engendered kept everyone going with the successful rescue being the end result.

Keeping so many working towards the goal is, in itself, an amazing story. Snyder also believed higher levels of HOPE are linked to higher outcomes.

Types of HOPE:

While there are several definitions of HOPE, most psychologists agree there are also several types of HOPE. They include:

Realistic Hope:  i.e. Hope for an outcome that is reasonable or probable

Situational Hope:  Hope involving a specific circumstance.

Utopian Hope: A collectively oriented hope that collaborative action can lead to a better future for all, and humans have the capacity to change things.

Generalized Hope: When you are hopeful and optimistic most of the time. i.e. Most things will turn out in the end

Transcendent Hope: There is general hopefulness, but not tied to a specific outcome or goal

False Hope: Confident feelings about something that is not likely true or is unlikely to happen. 

Chosen Hope: Hope that lets us live with an uncertain future.

Universal Hope: A general belief in the future that is a defence against despair.

No doubt all of these types were at work during this ordeal. 

WHY IS  HAVING HOPE IMPORTANT ? 

Lauren Schumaker

It is easy to see HOPE kept everyone going during this rescue, but HOPE is also an important component in much of what we do everyday. 

American Author and Life Coach Lori Schumaker says, “We all need to have HOPE. We need to not only live life but also live life to its fullest.” According to Schumaker, HOPE:

  1. Motivates us. If we are knocked down it helps us get up.
  2. Strengthens our physical and mental health.
  3. Infuses joy into our lives and leads people towards gratitude. 
  4. Allows us to have healthy relationships. People generally gravitate more to optimists than those who are negative. 
  5. Fosters a sense of humour.
  6. Allows us to learn from and move us to open our eyes to opportunity through past setbacks.
  7. Generally opens our eyes to opportunities.
  8. Heals us. 
  9. Fights fear.
  10. Helps others and makes us feel better.

HOW TO BECOME HOPEFUL

According to Schumaker and others, becoming hopeful does not come naturally. One can learn to become hopeful, but one must work at it to make it happen.

The KIDS HELP PHONE PHONE (KHP) has developed several ways for troubled young people to foster hope into their daily lives. They include:

  1. Thinking positively. Look for the good in situations.
  2. Looking at the big picture.
  3. Focusing on the future. Think of things that will help you shape your future.
  4. Be inspired. Listen to your favorite music. Watch an inspirational movie. Hear inspirational stories.
  5. Celebrate your successes, and the fact you have made it through every challenge so far. And no negative self-talk! If something does not work, it can help build resilience.
  6. Be patient. Things can, and will get better.  
  7. Get involved. Volunteer. It will make you feel good and can help you spread the message of hope.  
  8. Talk about the situation. Reaching out  to others may give you hope.

HOPE is often situational and can come other ways too including: 

  • Moving positively towards our goal 
  • Witnessing or experiencing acts of kindness 
  • Connecting with positive people
  • Experiencing a success 
  • Finding out more about the situation
  • Watching and enjoying  little children playing
  • Singing
  • Being outside in nature
  • Watching a beautiful sunrise or sunset
  • Regenerating yourself: sleeping, relaxing, breathing, meditating.    
  •  Religious faith also brings HOPE for many people.   

HOPE is a human construct, a powerful force we all need to have every day to make our own worlds better. 

Says Rupesh Sreeraman, “Life is HOPE. Without hope there is no life.” 

Fortunately, says KHP, while we need to look for it, HOPE IS ALL AROUND US. 

Till next time, 

Chris Snyder ,Climate Optimist 

Email: snyderchris74@gmail.com  

Stories of Good News and Hope:  https://chrissnyder.makeanimpact.ca/


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