Do not fear change

Consider a student who has toiled tirelessly for years to secure his dream job, only to face repeated failures. Picture a seasoned professional whose long honed skillsets are suddenly rendered irrelevant in a rapidly evolving job market. Imagine a businessman who has dedicated his life in setting up an enterprise only to find one fine day that his business has turned obsolete. Think about a family living in a affluent neighbourhood for generations that is now witnessing decline and decay.

These scenarios, while illustrative, are not merely hypothetical; they reflect the universal truth about life’s unpredictability. How do we navigate such upheaval? Should we succumb to despair, or should we move on and seek new paths forward? Or should we move on and explore new paths? But the new paths, we all know, are hindered by our fears, preventing us from venturing out in the uncharted territory. But, try asking yourself this fundamental or crucial question: What would I do if I were not afraid? Take a breath to sink in the power of this question.

This poignant and thought provoking question has been raised by Dr. Spencer Johnson in his famous book, Who Moved My Cheese? The book encourages the readers to overcome the fears of exploring and treading new paths as change is inevitable. The cheese is a metaphor that extends beyond material things, or good health, or spirituality. It represents any desire or aspiration we endear.

The beauty of the book lies in its brevity and simplicity. It’s a short cheesy story, featuring four characters: two mice, Sniff & Scurry and two littlepeople, Hem & Haw. The contrasts between the mice & littlepeople are telling. Sniff and Scurry, using the simple trial-and-error method, exemplify agile responses to change, immediately seeking new cheese when the supply runs out. They diligently keep checking each day for change. When faced with the inevitable, they move on without hesitation.

In stark contrast, Hem and Haw are caught off guard. They have succumbed to the comforts, settling into a false sense of security at Cheese Station C, and mistakenly believe “there’s enough cheese here to last forever.” But when the supply runs out, the unprepared littlepeople hem and haw, “It’s not fair!” They rant and rave at the injustice of it all.  They start to get frustrated and depressed as they have made future plans based on that Cheese. They waste precious time clinging to their past. Haw eventually realises the difference between activity and productivity, asserting, “If you do not change, you can become extinct’. Empowered by this insight, he bravely and successfully ventures out in search of the new cheese. His partner, Hem, however, is too rigid to adapt to changes, too scared to venture out, and unwilling to confront the unknown, demonstrating aptly how attachment to the past can lead to stagnation.

The simplicity of the narrative belies its profound insights. The lessons may not be novel; they serve as essential reminders that we often overlook in our daily lives. The book reminds us that adaptability is not just desirable but essential too. The contrast between action and inaction emphasises that while change can be daunting, the real danger lies in resisting it. Dr. Spenser also invites us to focus on the potential gains that come from embracing the change, rather than mooning on what has been lost or what will we lose.

The simple takeaway of the book is that by confronting our fears and embracing change, we can explore new opportunities and thrive in the face of adversity.