In his well-known parable, Who Moved My Cheese?, Dr. Spencer Johnson invites us to imagine a complex structure of corridors and rooms. Within it live two small people, named Hem and Haw, alongside two mice. For all of them, the ultimate goal is finding "Cheese" – not just literal cheese, but a metaphor for whatever we seek in life: a good job, financial security, loving relationships, health, or peace of mind. It represents fulfillment and happiness.

The Discovery and the Comfort Trap

One day, after much searching through the winding pathways, both the people and the mice discover a huge stockpile of their favorite Cheese in a place they call Cheese Station C. It seems like a lifetime supply! Overjoyed, Hem and Haw move their homes closer, settling into a comfortable routine. They visit the station daily, indulging freely, believing their worries are over. Comfort breeds complacency; they start taking the Cheese for granted, assuming it will always be there. The mice, too, enjoy the Cheese daily, but they remain observant, always checking the situation.

The Shock: The Cheese Vanishes

Then, the unthinkable happens. Hem and Haw arrive at Cheese Station C one morning to find it completely empty. Not a crumb remains. Shock and disbelief wash over them. "Where did it go?" they wonder aloud. "There was enough here forever! Who took our Cheese?" They feel confused, angry, and betrayed, suspecting theft or some unfair trick. The idea that the supply could simply run out, or that they should have anticipated this, doesn't initially register. They waste energy analyzing the situation, blaming external forces, and clinging to the hope that their beloved Cheese will magically reappear.

The mice, however, react differently. Noticing the absence of Cheese, they don't overanalyze or complain. They understand the situation has changed, and they immediately scurry off into the pathways, searching for a new source.

Paralysis vs. Possibility

Hem remains stuck in denial and fear. "I want this Cheese back," he insists. "All my plans depended on it!" He refuses to venture back into the unfamiliar corridors, paralyzed by the thought of uncertainty and potential hardship. He prefers the miserable comfort of the empty station, waiting for a miracle.

Haw, too, feels the fear and misses the old Cheese. But days turn into weeks, and hunger gnaws. He starts to realize the harsh truth: waiting isn't a strategy. He tries to convince Hem: "We need to move on, Hem! We'll starve if we just sit here." But Hem refuses, trapped by his attachment to what was.

Stepping into the Unknown

With a heavy heart, Haw makes the difficult decision to leave Hem and the empty station behind. He is terrified. The pathways seem dark and dangerous. What if he finds nothing? What if the search is worse than waiting? Yet, as he takes his first tentative steps, a realization dawns: "What would you do if you weren’t afraid?"

As Haw navigates the structure, he finds small, scattered pieces of new Cheese. They taste different, some even better than the old kind. He understands that letting go of the familiar opens doors to new experiences. He also learns that the fear he built up in his mind was far worse than the reality of the search. Exploring, while challenging, is also exciting and empowering.

Lessons Written on the Walls

To guide himself and perhaps, one day, his friend Hem, Haw begins leaving insights he learns along the way, written on the walls of the corridors:

• "If you do not change, you can become extinct." (Change is necessary for survival).
• "Smell the Cheese often so you know when it is getting old." (Be aware of changes happening around you).
• "Movement in a new direction helps you find New Cheese." (Action overcomes inertia and leads to new opportunities).
• "When you move beyond your fear, you feel free." (Overcoming fear is liberating).
• "Imagining myself enjoying New Cheese even before I find it leads me to it." (Positive visualization can motivate action).
• "The quicker you let go of Old Cheese, the sooner you find New Cheese." (Letting go of the past makes space for the future).
• "It is safer to search in the corridors than remain in a cheeseless situation." (Staying stuck is often riskier than facing change).

Haw even briefly returns to Hem, finding him unchanged, still lamenting the loss and waiting passively. He tries to share his new perspective and offer some new Cheese he found, but Hem rejects it, unable to let go of his desire for the specific Cheese he lost.

Embracing Continuous Change

Eventually, Haw discovers Cheese Station N – a vast, new reservoir brimming with many varieties of Cheese, even better than the first. He sees the mice are already there, thriving. But Haw has learned a crucial lesson. He enjoys the new bounty but doesn't become complacent again. He knows that this supply, too, might not last forever. He continues to explore the surrounding pathways occasionally, staying alert and prepared for future shifts. He realizes that change is constant, and the most important skill is the ability to adapt quickly and willingly. He hopes Hem will eventually find the messages on the wall and begin his own search, understanding that everyone must find their own way to navigate change.

References

• Johnson, Spencer. (1998). Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life. G.P. Putnam's Sons.
  This is the foundational parable discussed in the article. It uses the simple story of two mice and two "Littlepeople" searching for "Cheese" in a complex structure ("Maze") to illustrate different responses to change in life and work. The core messages about anticipating change, adapting quickly, overcoming fear, and enjoying the process of finding new opportunities are embodied in the characters' actions and Haw's "Handwriting on the Wall" insights. (Key lessons appear throughout, see for instance pp. 46, 50, 54, 62, 68, 70, 72, 74 for specific messages).