Who Moved My Cheese?

I recently read the short story Who Moved My Cheese? Written by Spencer Johnson M.D. This simple little tale offers big points about life, letting go of fears, and change. Collegiate business courses, and huge corporations alike have used this short story to convey growth potential and spur creativity and action amongst their students and employees. The story can be applied to many aspects of life- career, re-locating, spirituality, health, goal setting and even fitness.

The characters are Sniff and Scurry- 2 simple minded little mice, and Hem and Haw- 2 “little people,” as big as mice, but with human intellect and emotions. All 4 characters went out to search for cheese, their “livelihood” within the maze everyday. One day Hem and Haw found the mother load at Cheese Station C. They remained there thinking they had an endless supply- as if the cheese would never run out. They built their home around it, and connected the cheese to pure happiness and all that is good in life.

Within time, the cheese slowly ran out, but they did not notice. When all the cheese had run out they became angry, frustrated, and scared, especially Hem. While Haw tried to convince him that they had to go back into the maze and look for new cheese, Hem cried that he was getting too old, he was afraid to fail.

Meanwhile, Sniff and Scurry adjusted. They noticed that the cheese at Station C was deterring in quality- getting moldy- they went out and looked for new cheese before they were in a situation like Hem and Haw.

Haw finally convinced Hem to let go of his fears. He learned that “when you stop being afraid you feel good!” He began to visualize having new cheese and it spurred him on. He finally let go of his old beliefs and went back into the maze. Soon enough he found new cheese, but this time he was cautious to stay in the maze always in search of new cheese when his current supply gets old and runs out.

This story can be used in relation to many circumstances. It reminds me of fears people have regarding exercise. There may have been a time in the past that you were an athlete- you worked hard in the maze, found programs and exercises that delivered the good health and body you were seeking, but with time your body aged. Workouts became stale-you adapted.  Perhaps, you physically cannot do the things you once did like play football, or run, jump, or swim.

Get out of an exercise rut!

You adapted to everything within your routine or present capabilities without the ability to adapt to change. So like Hem, maybe you became frustrated when you weren’t getting the results you were seeking any longer or any injury stands in your way, “your cheese is gone.”  Perhaps, you became so angry that you gave up looking for new exercises and forms of training; you gave up on exercise altogether, because you felt like you were getting to old to get back out in the maze and explore. If you can’t do what you once did that worked for you in the past why do anything at all?

Like Hem, there’s going to come a time when you have no choice but to change and get back out in the maze. “If you do not change, you become extinct.” In this context, if you do not change your health is at risk, and literally, you may become extinct.

If you’ve hit a plateau in your weight loss efforts, if you’ve become so bored of your routine, or if an injury is holding you back from your favorite form of exercise don’t be like Hem and sit around in despair about how your “cheese” has disappeared! Get back in the maze and find “new cheese.” Don’t let your fears like, “what if I look silly? What if I’m not good at it?” hold you back. You will never know if you don’t try.

Maybe you can’t run any more because it bothers your knees, well what about swimming or non-impact forms of exercise like biking or the elliptical?  If the strength training program a personal trainer put you on 6 months ago is doing nada- it’s time to start a new program! If you’re bored of walking as a form of cardio let go of your inhibitions and try a class like Zumba or salsa dancing.

Try something new like a dance or aerobics class

Sometimes we have to be simple minded like Sniff and Scurry when it comes to exercise. If you try to complicate and over think things like the “little people,” Hem and Haw then you often do a lot of thinking and little to no action. Try something new without overanalyzing it. You’re never too unprepared or too old to get back in the maze!