Decision Making: Procrastination can make sense

In recent weeks we were bombarded with reports about Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s alleged favouring of a Used Car salesman, Treasurer Wayne Swan’s alleged privileged treatment of the salesman, an email which appears to be fake and Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull’s alleged prior knowledge of the email before it was published in the press. Some commentators have suggested these matters are a welcome distraction from decisions about the economy.

Whatever the case in Canberra, we can be pretty good ourselves at avoiding difficult decisions. Guilt can accompany indecision but unless it motivates us to do something, it simply saps our confidence and tends to immobilise us. Aside from those times when we intelligently avoid rushing into a dubious decision, I think we procrastinate because we sense deep down we are not ready to move.

Before we change we often need to experience discomfort with our situation; need to feel we have assessed the risks of making a change; to believe we have a reasonable chance of success, or to know we will be able to cope with an unsuccessful attempt and learn from it. Why else would we move out of the familiar even if it is not ideal.

People change when, and only when they are ready. We cannot make others change. We change when we see the benefits, know how to go about changing, and believe it possible. And we need to do it for ourselves, self-respect. When we choose action on this basis, solid change can occur. Just as removing the chock from under a wheel allows it to gain momentum and speed, so it is the decision which is the most critical part of any change. Once we can reach the decision to change, the previously unthinkable becomes very possible. And in regaining our control over our lives we make those we care about happier, too.


John Hunter BSW (Distinction), MAASW (Accredited), MACA (Clinical)
Medicare Provider of Counselling Melbourne and Burwood East
Mobile 0405 107 476, Ph. (03) 9539 2200, Email: john@johnhunter.net.au
www.johnhunter.net.au

Post Bushfire Outpourings

Now this is a strictly personal comment made in good faith. It is longer than usual blog entries because I want to do justice to the issue.

I expressed my pride in finding myself in a compassionate community when people from around Australia and overseas responded so magnificently to the plight and loss of fellow Victorians in the February firestorm which took so many lives, ravaged communities and destroyed homes.

The current Enquiry follows a tragedies without precedent in Victoria and is a communal attempt to pool lessons learned, identify new questions posed, adapt responses and upgrade human, equipment and technological resources to meet any repeat event.

I am concerned though at repeated attempts to blame organisations and individuals for failures in communications and other matters. The February fires were unprecedented in scale, in the speed at which they moved and changed direction. As a result, they outstripped the human and infrastructure resources in existance at the time.

I appreciate that many, many people are, and will remain, deeply affected for some time. Outpourings of grief are healthy. Seeking people to blame may be easier than accepting that our existence is not always predictable, that sometimes forces greater than our ability to contol will wreack havoc.

I do not doubt either that all the firefighters, media, government, community did everything they were capable of doing in whatever capacity and situation they found themselves. They gave unstintingly, as did the community here and elsewhere in the world to the Appeal. Blaming any of them is to put them outside the community they sought to assist as fellow members.

I believe we must accept what happened as a community. I believe we must continue to be grateful our organisation heads, fire chiefs, local mayors, police, emergency services commissioner and staff and leaders in all fields. They did everything possible for the community they served. If they had a a fault, it was only that they were human, not gods or fortune tellers. For mine, they performed mightily and humble me for how they shouldered the responsibility their positions gave them.

Looking back for future solutions and improvement is common sense. Using hindsight to seek blame is not in keeping with the common spirit we all demonstrated during the tragedy and the Appeal stage.

I do not wish to offend or add to the grief of anyone personally touched by the fires nor seek to interfere with your thoughts or feelings. I write in hope we may move forward as a community in the spirit of mutual support we mustered so recently in a time of great challenge.

John Hunter BSW (Distinction), MAASW (Accredited), MACA (Clinical)
Medicare Provider of Counselling Melbourne and Burwood East
Mobile 0405 107 476, Ph. (03) 9539 2200, Email: john@johnhunter.net.au
www.johnhunter.net.au

Happy Easter

A happy Easter to those who celebrate its religous significance and to all of us who enjoy a break from the routine.

Don't be surprised if your children are unusually energetic on Sunday. Chocolate contains the stimulant caffeine which we enjoy in coffee.

May these four days be a time of catching up on friends, rest and recreation.

John Hunter BSW (Distinction), MAASW (Accredited), MACA (Clinical)
Medicare Provider of Counselling Melbourne and Burwood East
Mobile 0405 107 476, Ph. (03) 9539 2200, Email: john@johnhunter.net.au
www.johnhunter.net.au

A Lesson from Australia

I want to say that I feel proud of Australia recently for the wonderful human kindness with which we have all responded to the Bushfire tragedy. Pope's Canberra Times cartoon (sent to me by a friend) epitomises this spirit. It shows Queensland flood victims, man woman and child, eager to donate to the Bushfire Appeal, looking beyond their own urgent, tragic need. It is a reminder that when it comes to the crunch, this country is as good or better as any other: it rises to the occasion with unstinting generosity, tireless hard work, support, money and goods. It has been good to see our politicians in such a human light this time around too.

I know that in months to come, while the long slog of rebuilding unfolds, this exceptional demonstration of warmth will fade as the crisis passes. But I am going to try to keep somewhere in my mind a reminder to myself, that however badly people may behave at times, underneath, we are the same, good, ordinary, unquestioningly generous people who rushed to help one another in this terrible time of loss.

John Hunter.

Free Counselling for People Affected by the Victoian Bushfires

The Department of Humans Services advises that the Victorian Government has established a new telephone counselling support service for all Victorians affected by the devastating bushfires, which is being operated by Nurse-on-Call.

The number to call is: 1300 60 60 24


This service gives all Victorians the peace of mind knowing that the best, professional health advice is only a phone call away. It will help families decide if they need to attend a hospital or a doctor straight away, whether the condition could be treated by a GP the next day, or that they may be able to manage themselves.

The Australian Counselling Association (ACA) also advises some of its members are donating their time to provide free counselling to those affected by the Victorian bushfires. It is a requirement that those registering are appropriately trained in grief and trauma.

Details of the service followed by a large list of providers with their contact details and whether they can provided telephone of face-to-face counselling can be found at

http://www.theaca.com.au and clicking on the icon: Victorian Bush Fire Counselling Services Register


Other counselling services available include:

Lifeline Information Service 131 114

Parentline -132 289

Kids Help Line - 1800 551 800

Griefline - 03 9596 7799

Suicide Line - 1300 651 251

Rural Support Line - 1300 655 969

Beyondblue -1300 22 4636

All the above information is displayed on my normal website for easy reference: www.johnhunter.net.au

Fire Tragedy

I wanted to humbly offer my condolences to all who have lost family, friends or acquaintances to the horrific fires Victoria has suffered this weekend and prior. Also to those whose lives are temporarily displaced having lost homes and other property. Offers of professional assistance from Firefighters and forensic specialists came from every part of Australia; Australian and Victorian governments responded with financial assistance immediately.
As a community, we are responding to appeals.
My purpose is simply to express my condolences, sympathy, and express the depth of sadness I think many of us are feeling today at such a sudden and huge loss of life and displacement in the lives of so many fellow Victorians.


John Hunter.

Withstanding the Heat

Feeling he heat? Make no mistake. People change for the worse (temporarily) in prolonged heat such as we are experiencing these last few days. We lose quality sleep, don't eat normally, sometimes neglect our intake of water to compensate for fluid loss. We get tetchy, irritable, demotivated and lose focus.

Worse, we can up our fluid intake with more alcohol that we are used to. This adds to our dehydration (a natural function of alcohol)and the extra alcohol effects ourpersonality, behaviour and thinking. Small disagreements can become major arguments and can lead to violence.

Domestic violence call outs for police, assaults and even murders increase in very hot weather. So it is a time to remind ourselves that, whatever is getting under our skin, getting us "hot under the collar" may be as much a part of heat distress as it is anything else. Perhaps it may be a good time to remember that old advertising line "You're horrible when your hot" and postpone important debate and arguments till the temperature has dropped and we have all "cooled off".

Our relationships would probably benefit by this approach even when the weather is not an issue.

Stay cool, ice out in a cool bath, drink lots, keep alcohol to a minimum, ride the heat wave out. As Melbournians, we will be soon enough be complaining about the cold come Winter.

John Hunter BSW (Distinction), MAASW (Accredited), MACA (Clinical)
Medicare Provider of Counselling Melbourne and Burwood East
Mobile 0405 107 476, Ph. (03) 9539 2200, Email: john@johnhunter.net.au
www.johnhunter.net.au