This one-hour read book has utterly shifted my perspective of the current situation to the positive side. I’m sure it can do the same for you. 

A few seconds after I opened the first pages of this book, I had the urge to put it down in a flash. It just wasn’t what I expected it to be: a bestselling book with over 28M copies in print, written by one of New York Times bestselling authors. 

But I suppressed myself. I made a promise and challenged myself to read five books in that month. I should stand by it.

I was working on the last one. I chose this book because it looked like I could finish reading it in an hour. So I decided to stick with it and turn one page after another.

Several minutes after, I was almost nearing the epilogue of the book. I didn’t notice. I was engrossed with reading; I was like a fish caught in its net. 

I learned the most important lesson in life in this children’s book. 

Suddenly, everything that occurred in the past that I thought didn’t make sense made complete sense at that exact moment. 

Every change happens to rid the old, so we can start anew, just like a snake shedding its old skin.

What’s the Book?

You might have already read this book as it’s also one of the most recommended books for self-help. 

It’s been shared with millions of people in thousands of organizations all over the world. 

The author, Spencer Johnson, M.D, is a New York Times bestselling author, not only of one book but several of his. 

One of his books called Who Moved My Cheese? has completely changed many people’s lives, particularly on how they perceive and respond to every CHANGE. 

With a story now adapted for a picture book audience, so children at their earliest age can also learn the lesson from this book. 

It’s best if you read the book, but to give you an idea, the story tells the adventures of 4 little characters, Sniff, Scurry, Hem, and Haw, who all lived inside a maze. 

They were all in search of the “best cheese.” 

Sniff and Scurry are the mice who respond to change positively. 

While Hem and Haw are the “Littlepeople” who resist and react negatively to change. 

The names “hem and haw” represent one of the most common qualities in human beings — indecisiveness. 

Synopsis

Every day, the mice and the littlepeople would search for the best-tasting cheese within the maze.

One day, they found a cheese-filled corridor at Cheese Station C. 

They were so happy with this newly found treasure. 

Every day, Hem and Haw would wake up, go to the Cheese station C, and eat their fill. 

Days after, Hem and Haw found out that the cheese at station C was all gone, not even a trace of it left. 

They thought somebody took their cheese. But they didn’t know who.

They were enraged and blamed the lost cheese on whoever took it away from them. 

In the end, they decided to go home hungry and planned to return the next day, hoping the pile of cheese would be there again. 

When they came back the following day, they didn’t find any cheese nor crumbs. They got stuck with where they were. 

On the other hand, Sniff and Scurry saw it coming. 

They were aware the cheese was running out. 

So when they reached the station and found no cheese, they made a decision. 

They put on their shoes and explored the corridors of the maze again.

They didn’t know if they’d find another cheese-filled corridor or they’d be faced with dangers. 

But they didn’t give up and continued the adventures to find new cheese, which in the end, they did. 

The Meaning

Cheese

Cheese is a metaphor for our desires. 

Whether it’s a good relationship, a stable career, or financial stability. 

The best cheese would be one that makes us feel absolute happiness. 

If we find our favorite cheese, and it’s taken away from us, we react differently to the circumstance. 

We get mad and point the finger at somebody else. We get depressed and slip into a slump. 

Maze

It represents the place we spend our time looking for our wants. 

It may be our workplace, the community where we live, or even online. 

Characters

Sniff and Scurry symbolize our simplistic personality, like our instincts. 

If we lose something essential to us, we get over it. We don’t overthink, and we just respond accordingly. 

Hem and Haw are our complex nature. 

If something unfavorable happens, like we lose our job, we dwell on the situation. Thus, it takes a long time to get into action. 

Instead of looking for ways to solve the problem, like exploring other work opportunities, we tend to overcomplicate things with what-ifs and fears. 

My Favorite Lines From Who Moved My Cheese?

Disclaimer: These lines are from the original book by Dr. Spencer Johnson. 

“What would you do if you weren’t afraid?”

“When you stop being afraid you feel good.”

“Life moves on, and so should we.”

“See what you’re doing wrong, laugh at it, change, and do better.”

“The quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you find new cheese.”

In a nutshell, the story teaches how to deal with change. 

As a motivational business fable, Who Moved My Cheese? shows the different ways we humans cope with change, especially with one that shifts the direction of our sail – just like this whole pandemic thing.

What We’re Going Through Today

Everyone is grappling to keep up with the present growing concern. 

With businesses trying their best to stay afloat despite the big wave of change.

We try to keep our sanity safe, so we don’t fall into a spiral of anxiety and depression. 

With some of us trying to be the pillar of strength for our loved ones. 

It’s all grueling and feels like starting from scratch again. 

You may think the chance of surviving is nil, but there’s hope.

As long as you move an inch after another into the positive side, you’ll be alright. 

Final Thoughts

Sometimes the fear of change is just too great, we dodge its throw. 

But we won’t grow if we don’t get hurt because change carries the pain for something new. 

Our brain doesn’t like pain. It’s wired to stay in the old because it’s where it feels safe – old ways, old personalities, old perspectives. 

Yet again, it’s only when we get hit by the ball of change that we transform beautifully. 

If there’s pain, there’s discomfort, and it can mean we’re moving out of our safety zone. 

That’s something we should strive for—step outside of what we’ve always known as comfort. 

Because only then do we see things in a bird’s eye view. Otherwise, we won’t get a grasp of things if we remain watching at a low angle.

Now the question is, would you change? Or would you settle for comfort?

You, how do you cope with this current challenge? You can share your stories with me.