Who Moved My Cheese?

Many human beings fear changing the routines in their lives that they are used to. This is regardless of the benefits that they might enjoy when they make such changes in their lives. This paper explores the allegorical message in the book “Who Moved My Cheese?” In particular, the paper highlights the character that I relate to, the aspects of comfort zone that are most appealing to me, the steps that I intend to take to embrace change and who I will pass the book to.

The character that I most closely identify with is Hem as there are some traits he has that are similar to mine. I seem to be comfortable in my daily routines even though they may not be beneficial. Consequently, there seems to be a fear in me whenever I want to try something new. There are doubts about the success of something that I could start to improve any aspect of my life. Like Hem, I am in denial of the changes occurring around me. My character traits as observed by someone who knows me include; indecisiveness, doubtful, scared, guarded and unwilling to embrace change. Most of these traits are similar to those of Hem’s. For example, Hem is indecisive and seems to postpone making decisions that could benefit him. He is also guarded and does not wish to get out of his comfort zone in order to get the cheese. This is the problem I fight because I am scared of getting out of my comfort zone and explore many things that could benefit me (Johnson, 1998).

My cheese station C is my current comfort zone in which I do not wish to move away from. The aspects of my comfort zone that are most appealing to me are the orderliness that I have. There are no changes because the current routine seems to work for me. It is not true that the comfort zone makes me explore my potential. It is just that there are no new things that must be done in order to change the routine that I am already used to. I must change my routine and stop being comfortable so as to find station N in which the cheese has been moved to (Johnson, 1998).

After putting on my running shoes, I would like them to take me to where I gave up some of my ambitions. I would like to run to where I thought that I could not achieve my goals because I gave many excuses. I thought the cheese had been moved and technically my dreams had come to an end. This is where I would like to go to and find the cheese instead of complaining about missed opportunities. There are several steps of paths that I intend to take in order to arrive at my station N. for example, the first step to be taken will be to engage in hourly session of self-reflection for five days. Indeed, this should be beneficial as it will allow me to focus on all the ambitions I ever wished to achieve. Moreover, the self-reflection will ensure that I remember any plan that I previously aborted because the cheese had been moved. After the identification of all the goals to be achieved I will then embark on the realization of the goals. For example, I will take time to exercise regularly in order to be fit, regardless of the weather or the temptation to watch an interesting program (Johnson, 1998).

I would pass this book on to my friend who are currently complacent and seem to be comfortable. My friend seems to avoid change and never wishes for any change in routine. This is not a good trait because when people go out of their comfort zones, they can do amazing things. I feel the book will be extremely beneficial to my friend as it will teach lessons about the benefit of change. I would like my friend to emulate Sniff who is able to sniff out new cheese and go for it. When a situation changes, Sniff does not grumble as he is previously prepared. If my friend could learn this character of always being prepared and going out of one’s way then this would be great. I can encourage my friend to closely read the benefit of going after the cheese at station N (Johnson, 1998).

Conclusively, there is need for people to make appropriate changes in their lives. They should also be advised that people do not need to complain whenever, they find change. Instead, they must go out of their way and achieve their dreams. Just like in the story, they do not need to complain about where their cheese has been moved to. They need to be always alert in order to smell the cheese before it is moved to another location. In case the cheese is moved, they need to run after it to wherever it will be taken to.

Reference

Johnson, S. (1998). Who moved my cheese?: An amazing way to deal with change in your work and in your life . New York: Putnam.