Who Moved My Cheese: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life

by Dr Spencer Johnson

I was really annoyed with myself for not seeing the obvious and doing what works when things change.

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.

He decided that if he ever got the chance again, he would get out of his comfort zone and adapt to change sooner. It would make things easier.

He was taking control, rather than simply letting things happen to him.

He had to admit however, that if he had wanted to, he probably could have seen what was coming. But he didn’t.

He decided he would stay more alert from now on. He would expect change to happen and look for it. He would trust his basic instincts to sense when change was going to occur and be ready to adapt to it.

“This empty feeling has happened to me too often,” he thought. He felt like giving up.

Then he laughed at himself. He realized his fears were making things worse. So he did what he would do if he weren’t afraid. He moved in a new direction.

Haw realized he had been held captive by his own fear. Moving in a new direction had freed him.

The more clearly he saw the image of himself enjoying New Cheese, the more real and believable it became.

what you are afraid of is never as bad as what you imagine. The fear you let build up in your mind is worse than the situation that actually exists.

He knew that when you change what you believe, you change what you do.

He realized that when he had been afraid to change he had been holding on to the illusion of Old Cheese that was no longer there.

He realized the fastest way to change is to laugh at your own folly—then you can let go and quickly move on.

He reflected on the mistakes he had made in the past and used them to plan for his future. He knew that you could learn to deal with change.

You could be more aware of the need to keep things simple, be flexible, and move quickly. You did not need to overcomplicate matters or confuse yourself with fearful beliefs. You could notice when the little changes began so that you would be better prepared for the big change that might be coming.

Hem had to find his own way, beyond his comforts and past his fears. No one else could do it for him, or talk him into it. He somehow had to see the advantage of changing himself.

While Haw still had a great supply of Cheese, he often went out into the Maze and explored new areas to stay in touch with what was happening around him. He knew it was safer to be aware of his real choices than to isolate himself in his comfort zone.

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

The New Cheese is a new relationship with the same person.”

instead of changing jobs, I should be changing the way I am doing my job. I’d probably have a better position by now if I did.”