Beyond the Maze: Embracing Change, Courage & Connection
Varsha Vinayan
HR Strategist | People & Culture Specialist | Happiness Coach | Enhancing Employee Experience & Driving Growth
“Change happens. They keep moving the cheese.”🧀
Last month, fresh off my birthday, I unwrapped my copy of Who Moved My Cheese? - just as every employee does, thanks to our CEO’s thoughtful tradition of gifting each of us a book on our birthdays. I smiled at the ritual. That evening, when I dialed my College Professor after 14 years, those words hit home in a way the ribbon never could.
The Maze & Its Movers🗺️
In Dr. Spencer Johnson’s parable, two mice (Sniff & Scurry) and two “little people” (Hem & Haw) hunt in a maze for cheese - a stand in for what each of us most wants: security, success, connection). When the cheese vanishes, their mindsets reveal four distinct approaches:
Sniff senses change early.
Scurry moves quickly to explore new paths.
Hem resists, stubbornly hoping the old spot will refill.
Haw laughs at his own fears, steps into the unknown, and finds fresh cheese.
Four Change Master Mantras💡
Anticipate Change: “Smell the cheese often,” the book advises. Carve out 10 minutes each week to scan your world - team dynamics, market shifts, personal goals., to detect where your cheese might move next
Adapt Quickly: When projects stall or routines become stale, don’t overanalyze. Take a single small step, just like Scurry dashing off into the maze, and gauge what happens.
Enjoy Change: Reframe every shift as an adventure. Celebrate the thrill of exploration, whether you are learning a new tool, starting a side hobby, or reconnecting with someone you miss.
Prepare for More: Build resilience habits, daily reflection, a trusted peer circle, and bite size learning. So you are poised to pivot again, when the maze throws you another curve.
My Real Life “Cheese Moved” Moment🤗❤️
Calling my professor after 14 years stirred a quiet mix of nerves and nostalgia. Would he remember me?
You’re the only student I have ever wanted to see again,” he said.
That moment hit me with a joy I can’t quite explain. That conversation - filled with nostalgia, surprise, and warmth reminded me that life’s “cheese” is not only about promotions or pay hikes, but also about the bonds and insights that guide our journey.
Who Moved My Cheese? teaches us to embrace change with courage and curiosity. But reaching out despite uncertainty reminded me: sometimes, moving forward also means pausing to acknowledge the people who helped us get here- anchors in our own maze of growth.
Over to You👇
Which character feels most like you today - Sniff, Scurry, Hem, or Haw?
What one small step will you take this week?
Let this be your gentle nudge. One small step may lead to something far more meaningful than expected.
Here’s to fresh cheese and timeless connections.🧀🤝
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- Vichar by Varsha