“Who Moved My Cheese?” is a popular self-help book written by Dr. Spencer Johnson. It uses a fictional story to convey a powerful message about dealing with change in our lives, both professionally and personally. Cheese in the story is a metaphor for whatever we want in life. The maze is a metaphor for where you spend your time looking for what you want in life.

Image Credits: The Onion

Book Structure:

The book is structured as follows:

  • The gathering: former classmates discussing their lives.
  • The story of who moved my cheese
  • The Discussion: People discussing what the story meant to them.

Let’s delve into the writings on the wall (excerpts from the story) as these are some of the valuable nuggets for me from the book.

The Writings on the Wall:

The writings on the wall are messages left by one of the characters, Hem. Hem, initially resists change. The messages were left for himself and his friend. These messages reflect his thoughts and reactions as he grapples with the challenges presented by the shifting of the cheese. Here are the messages written on the wall:

  1. “Having Cheese Makes You Happy”: This one is pretty obvious. It emphasizes the idea that finding what you desire in life brings joy and maybe contentment.

  2. “The More Important Your Cheese Is To You The More You Want To Hold On To It”: This message highlights the tendency of people to resist change when they have become attached to a particular situation or outcome. Sometimes to their detriment.

  3. “If You Do Not Change, You Can Become Extinct”: This message warns against the dangers of clinging to old ways and refusing to adapt to new circumstances. It was particularly interesting to see that the rodents adapted better and faster to change than the ‘little humans’.

  4. “What Would You Do If You Weren’t Afraid?”: This message encourages one to consider what they would do if fear was not a factor, suggesting that fear often holds us back from embracing change.

  5. “Smell The Cheese Often So You Know When It Is Getting Old”: This message emphasizes the importance of staying attuned to changes in one’s environment and being proactive in seeking new opportunities. It’s very easy to cling to things that are going bad and not even notice because the comfort doesn’t let us look ahead. The fact that your cheese has not been moved doesn’t mean it is good for you.

  6. “Movement In A New Direction Helps You Find New Cheese”: This message encourages one to explore different paths and take risks in order to discover new opportunities. This one and the previous one are so complimentary.

  7. “When You Move Beyond Your Fear, You Feel Free”: This message emphasizes the liberation that comes from overcoming fear and embracing change.

  8. “Imagining Myself Enjoying New Cheese Even Before I Find It, Leads Me To It”: This message underscores the power of visualization and positive thinking in manifesting desired outcomes.

Conclusion:

These messages serve as a narrative device in the story, representing one of the “little human’s” evolving mindset and providing insights into the book’s central message about adapting to change. They also serve as reflective prompts, encouraging the reader to consider their own attitudes towards change and how they might approach it differently. I can’t believe it took me so long to finally read this book. Definitely recommend it. One last thing, if you read it because of my recommendation, I’d like to hear your thoughts