When you need a book with few pages, that blend storytelling and growth enriching lessons, “Who Moved My Cheese” by Spencer Johnson M. D. is one of the books I will recommend to you.
The author used storytelling to explicitly talk about change; its fears, merits and demerits. Plus, how to know when it’s needed and adapt to it quickly. He used four characters (two little humans and two mice) to discuss how people respond and adapt to change in their everyday lives.
Amidst this Covid19 pandemic, a lot of things have experienced transmission from the usual. To be productive now and in the post-covid19 lockdown, one will need to change and adapt to the present reality. And to do that effectively, I will encourage you to get this book and read it.
Note: “Cheese” represents life’s circumstances/situations.
Below are some Insights from the book.
The more important your cheese is to you, the more you want to hold to it.
There is a difference between activity and productivity.
If you do not change, you can become extinct.
What would you do if you weren’t afraid?
Sometimes, some fears can be good. 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.
It is always better late than never.
Smell the cheese often so you know when it is getting old; always be conscious of your circumstances to know when you should change or apply a different approach.
Movement in a new direction helps you find new cheese.
Imagining yourself enjoying your new cheese leads you to it.
The quicker you let go of the old cheese, the sooner you find new cheese.
What you are afraid of is never as bad as what you imagine.
Think more about what could go right than wrong.
It is natural for change to continually occur whether you expect it or not.
Change could surprise you only if you don’t expect it and aren’t looking for it.
Old beliefs do not lead to new cheese.
Learn to encourage new behaviours that are growth-enriching.
When you change what you believe, you change what you do.
Noticing small changes early helps you adapt to the bigger changes that are to come.
If you do not adapt in time, you might as well not adapt at all.
The greatest inhibitor of change lies within yourself and nothing gets better unless you change.
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.
Some fear should be respected as it can keep you out of danger. But most of it is irrational and can keep from changing when you need to.
Change happens. Anticipate it, monitor it, quickly adapt to it and enjoy it.