WHO MOVED MY CHEESE By Spencer Johnson, M.D.

These are my notes from the book as understood by me.

This is one of the best books written about “Change”. IT IS A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE!

 

There are four imaginary characters in this story – two mice, “Sniff” and “Scurry” and two littlepeople “Hem” and “Haw”(American slang term for indecisiveness), they represent simple and complex parts of ourselves.

Cheese – In this book Cheese is taken as a metaphor for what we want in life, e.g. a job, relationship, money, a big house, freedom, health, recognition, spiritual peace or even activities like jogging or golf.

This book represents our life story – sometimes we act like “Sniff” who sniffs change early or “Scurry” who scurries into action, or “Hem” who denies and resists change as he fears it will lead to something worse or “Haw” who learns to adapt in times when he sees changing can lead to something better.

Everyone knows that not all change is good or even necessary. But in a world that is constantly changing, it is to our advantage to learn how to adapt and enjoy something better.

CHANGE HAPPENS – They keep moving the cheese.

ANTICIPATE CHANGE – Get ready for the cheese to move. Be prepared for the inevitable and know instinctively what to do. Do not overanalyze things. Don’t Cry “It’s not fair”.

Move on Quickly, do not hem or haw.

THE MORE IMPORTANT YOUR CHEESE IS TO YOU, THE MORE YOU WANT TO HOLD ON TO IT!

If things are changing around you, you should change. Stop analyzing the situation, go and find new Cheese.

MONITOR CHANGE – Smell the Cheese often so you know when it is getting old.

ADAPT TO CHANGE QUICKLY – The quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you can enjoy New Cheese.

Don’t be comfortable and think it’s dangerous out there. If you anticipate and just sit there thinking they will put the cheese back – you are wrong, it won’t happen.

Most people keep doing the same things over and over again and wonder why things don’t get better.

CHANGE – Move with the Cheese

Use your imagination to paint most believable picture, with most realistic details of finding and enjoying the taste of new Cheese.

Things change and they are never the same again. That is life. Life moves on and so should you!

Be able to laugh at yourself, let go and move on.

IF YOU DO NOT CHANGE, YOU CAN BECOME EXTINCT.

THINK – WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WEREN’T AFRAID?

Sometimes some fear can be good. When you are afraid things are going to get worse if you don’t do something, it can prompt you in action. It is not good when you are so afraid that it keeps you from doing anything.

MOVEMENT IN A NEW DIRETION HELPS YOU FIND NEW CHEESE!

ENJOY CHANGE – Savor the adventure and enjoy the taste of New Cheese.

When you stop being Afraid, you feel good. Keep thinking about what you would gain instead of what you are losing.

Imagine yourself enjoying your new cheese – it leads you to it.

The fear you let build up in your mind is worse than the situation that actually exists.

OLD BELIEFS DO NOT LEAD YOU TO NEW CHEESE

When you change what you believe, you change what you do.

Noticing small changes early helps you to adapt to the bigger changes that are about to come.

Keep your life simple, don’t overanalyze or overcomplicate things.

BE READY TO CHANGE QUICKLY & ENJOY IT AGAIN AND AGAIN.

Realize that there is always New Cheese out there whether you recognize it at the time, or not. You are rewarded with it when you go past your fear and enjoy the adventure.

QUESTION FOR YOU – What do we need to let go of and what do we need to move on to?

Remember repeating the same behavior will just get you the same results.