WHO MOVED MY CHEESE? BY DR. SPENCER JOHNSON. A REVIEW.

This is a great piece about an Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life.

The key word here, ‘cheese’ is used as a metaphor for what we want to have in life, which could be a job, a relationship, money, a big house, freedom, health, recognition, spiritual peace, or whatever we name it to be. It could be a goal you want to accomplish. This story as narrated takes place in a maze which signifies whichever location we are finding these goals or ends. It could be your work place, community, family, relationship, company, etc.

Who moved my cheese is a story about adaptation to new things, to changes, to different experiences and to new ways of doing things, - modus operandi. It is about training one’s self to be flexible and open to new ideas and ways. Do you change when things change? Or do you stick stubbornly to your old ways despite the positive changes happening around you? Are you afraid of change?

The book is written in three sections for easy comprehension. The first is a meeting of classmates who table their various experiences in life and at work. The second is the onus of the book, the cheese story. Finally the last part is a discussion on how the participants intend applying the cheese story to their daily living.

The cheese story is centered on four characters Sniff and Scurry (two mice), Hem and Haw (littlepeople, the size of a mouse) who ran through a maze looking for cheese to nourish themselves. The maze had dark corners, chambers, corridors, alleys, etc which contained cheese. All they had to do was wake each morning and go in search of cheese. Sniff and Scurry the mice, searched everywhere daily for cheese using their rodent brain while Hen and Haw used their human ability to think and learn from past experiences.

The little people (Hem and Haw) kept looking until they found a particular kind of cheese they needed in Station ‘C’, on finding it, they went daily to that particular spot to enjoy their cheese. While the mice kept going in daily search for cheese in all corners.

The little people got really used to their routine as they were so sure of finding their cheese in station C as usual anytime they arrived. They became sluggish, and woke up late being sure they will still get enough cheese to eat at their spot irrespective of the time they got there.

They began calling it “their cheese” and even got to a point where they moved into apartments closer to the cheese station then proceeded to build their family and social life around Station C. They took their friends to the cheese factory with pride to show them what a thing they have accomplished by locating the factory after such a long search. They were living the life. Arrogance set in.

Sniff and Scurry (the mice) in their usual search routine kept searching and inspecting for more cheese while eating to their satisfaction. They noticed that the quantity of cheese had reduced and was almost finished, hence they prepared for the changes. They started out in search for more cheese in other parts of the maze without bothering themself  or sulking over the finished cheese. The situation had changed so they had to change too.

The little people – Hem and Haw – on the other hand never took notice that the quantity of cheese was reducing in the station hence they weren’t prepared for what they found – the cheese had finished. They wailed and complained in disappointment not knowing what to do.

Finding cheese was their way of getting the things they needed in life to be happy, it meant different things to them hence the sadness and wailing on realizing they could no longer get those things they needed. They ranted so much and blamed others about the injustice of what happened till they got depressed. They spent so much time thinking of what to do. All they could think of was to keep looking around Cheeseless Station C to see if the Cheese was really gone while Sniff and Scurry (the mice) had quickly moved on, sniffing and scurrying for new cheese.

Hem and Haw didn’t want to know if the Cheese supply had gradually been getting smaller, they believed it had been moved all of a sudden. They felt they deserved to be compensated for what happened as they had a right to cheese. Haw suggested they go look for new cheese but Hem insisted they had to get to the bottom of the matter.

Sniff and Scurry finally found a new Station ‘N’ filled with so much cheese. They couldn’t believe their eyes, it was the biggest cheese store ever. Meanwhile Hem and Haw were still stuck in Station C until Haw decided it was time to search for new cheese but Hem convinced him to stay back and focus on their old routine which they were sure of, to avoid making a fool of themselves in a bid to search for new cheese. Besides, they are too old for such. They depreciated as the day went by, while believing if they worked harder in the same station, they would find more cheese.

Haw was beginning to realize the difference between activity and productivity.  He realized that doing the same thing every day will never produce new results, it was time to put on his boots and run through the maze in search for new cheese. “Sometimes,” Haw said, “things change and they are never the same again. This looks like one, of those times, Hem. That's life! Life moves on. And so should we.”  When you are afraid things are going to get worse if you don't do something, it can prompt you into action. But it is not good when you are so afraid that it keeps you from doing anything. He set off.

Haw searched for a while and began to feel discouraged but then thought to himself that searching for new cheese was better than sitting back in a cheeseless station. He now realized that the change probably would not have taken him by surprise if he had been watching what was happening all along and if he had anticipated change. He felt freedom as he was able to move beyond his fear. He created mental images of a cheese factory filled with cheese and how he was going to enjoy it. It uplifted his spirit.

He finally got to a new station with good quality cheese outside the entrance, he filled his pocket and ate some but on getting inside he realized the room was empty. He moved too late, he should have moved sooner. He refused to feel bad about it. Rather he was happy he made a move and had learnt his lesson to act fast other times.

Changing what you believe changes what you do. He wasted too much time denying the change that he missed out on getting new cheese.

Still searching through the maze, Haw finally found Station ‘N’ filled with so much choice cheese and his friends, Sniff and Scurry buried deep enjoying themselves. Haw settled in with satisfaction laughing and having bites of the different kinds of cheese he found. He realized that laughing at his folly back in station C was what enabled him to move on and leave his pity state in search of new and better cheese.

He reflected on his past mistakes and determined to learn from it and correct himself in event of the future. This is what the human brain does better than the mice. Be flexible, move quickly, and notice the little changes in your life so you’d be better prepared for the bigger ones.

• ·   Change happens
•    Anticipate change
• ·        Monitor change
• ·        Adapt to change quickly
• ·        Change
• ·        Enjoy change
• ·        Be ready to change and enjoy it again.

While Haw still had a great supply of Cheese, he often went out into the maze and explored new areas to stay in touch with what was happening around him. He knew it was safer to be aware of his real choices than to isolate himself in his comfort zone.

 

My dear readers, who are you in the story? Sniff? Scurry? Haw or Hem? What is your Cheese?

We all get afraid sometimes, do not be in denial, accept your fear, laugh at yourself like Haw did and changed for the better. Do not blame others when your cheese gets moved. Instead, move along with it. Move your own cheese if you must.

Identify your old cheese. Change or let go of it. Find new cheese.

@PENNITT