This book outlines simple and complicated behaviors of ourselves when we face with an unexpected change in our life. This difference in behavior is because of Complicated brain which overanalyze/overthink compare to simple one with less thinking. Cheese and Maze are used as metaphors, which mean what we want to have in life (money, health, a good relationship, a job, etc.) and where we look for what we want (in our profession, family, office, etc.), respectively.

Change is the Only Constant.

The story is about four characters, two of them were mice named Sniff and Scurry, and the other two were little people, named Haw and Hem, who were as small as mice but human. Their days used to start with the search for cheese in the maze. Both mice used the trial and error method, while both little people used their complex brains to explore.

One day they found the cheese in Station C, and they were very happy. They were celebrating by having fresh cheese, and they took some for dinner. The same routine continued for a few days. Both little people got used to it and started enjoying comfort. While both mice were starting their exploration for new cheese. One fine day, all of them found no cheese left in Station C. It was a bit shocking to both Hem and Haw. They spent a long time trying to decide what to do and asking why this had happened to them, unlike Sniff and Scurry, who moved on from this change.

After a few days, Haw realized that it was better to leave Station C and search for the cheese in other places. But his partner, Hem, stressed the need to investigate more of this change and convinced him to stay in the same place. Meanwhile, both mice found cheese at Station N, where the quantity was much higher than at Station C and, most importantly, it was fresh and tasty. With less food, both Hem and Haw were getting weak and hungry.

Soila pua ra bhaga nahi. — Odia Proverb

To escape from the comfort zone without wasting more time, Haw restarted painting a picture of himself getting and enjoying new cheese. Eventually, Haw left his partner alone and started his search in the maze. Initially, he got very little cheese in some corners, which was not enough for him, but he never looked back. In this lonely journey, Haw missed his friend but couldn’t do much unless Hem himself didn’t want to change. Haw was happy with small progress and started writing on the walls (to give direction assistance) for his partner. And one day his search came to end, Haw reached Station N and was delighted to meet his friends Sniff and Scurry. Haw amazed with the quantity and freshness of cheese. Haw didn’t repeat the same behavior this time, like being comfortable and doing nothing, instead did laugh on himself, learn to accept change and move on.

Change happens to all of us. But how we handle it, decide our future. Thanks a lot to Aleks, who gave me this wonderful book whose lessons are useful in real life.

To create a good habit and achieve compounding effect, invest 4 mins to read the amazing Book Atomic Habits’s summary.