Malmangernuten is a steep mountain rising straight up from Rosendal in the Hardanger fjord in Western Norway. This weekend we decided to backpack the 900 meters to the top to get the sunset and sunrise in the beautiful spring weather.
We parked the car at Rosendal Fjordhotel`s upper parking, crossed the street and started our hike to the summit. I find that Hiking is perfect for listening to podcasts and audiobooks – but also for discussing books and new knowledge you are learning.
Tony Robbins
I told my hiking companion that I just listened to a podcast with Tony Robbins – you know; the self-development guru that makes people walk on fire!
Tony explained that we all have 6 human needs. He also claimed that every desition we make is grounded in fulfilling one or more of those needs. “so, we are climbing this mountain to fulfill our needs” I declared. My friend took the bate and wanted to hear more.
The 6 human needs
According to Mr. Robbins, the first four needs are connected to our personality.
Certainty
Is the need for stability and consistency, feeling safe, have a predictable life where you are in control and secure.
Uncertainty
Is the need for challenges and surprises, being exited and adventurous. Have variety in life and some chaos and change.
Put certainty and uncertainty on each end of a line and I guess you know where you tend to seek. I certainly know I lean towards the uncertainty of the two. If it gets to certain, I tend to get bored and crave adventures.
The last two connected to our personality is:
Significance
Is the need to find meaning in our life. To feel special and useful and wanted where we work and play. Significance is also related to feeling important and worthy of love and affection.
Love and connection
Is the need to communicate, be approved of, feel attachment and belonging, and finding deep intimate relationships that thrive on love and connection.
If you put these two needs on each side of a line; where would you put the arrow? Tony says that if you spend more time searching for meaning or being wanted, you could have trouble finding deep intimate love. Quite a paradox and dilemma! I could see my friend thinking new thoughts as his mouth opened and closed and his eyes went from side to side.
The last two need are “needs of the spirit” you know, the internal fulfillment and feeling of happiness only you yourself can provide!
Growth
Is the need for constant intellectual, spiritual and emotional development. Like Tony says – you either grow or you die. That is why it is important to read books and expand your mind to be ready to grab opportunities and handle obstacles to thrive in life. Albert Einstein had this to say about learning:
Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.
Contribution
Is the need to contribute to something larger than yourself. To give of our knowledge and time, to serve, protect and care for others. Pablo Picasso said it like this:
The meaning of life is to find your gift, and the purpose of life is to give it away
Photo was taken with my Huawei p20
Morning Bliss – covering my needs
We woke up to this view through our tent opening. The clouds were covering the fjord and the village below us. The feeling of awe always fills me when nature gives me a new work of art, like a once in a lifetime sunrise. We continued talking about the six human needs over coffee – watching the sunrise.
Certainty and uncertainty
The great thing about nature is that it covers the duality of Certainty and Uncertainty. No two days are the same but it provides us with all we need to survive. Gras to camp on, wood for the fire, berries, fish and other food. It provides us with vitamin D for our health, water to drink and adventures and beautiful seasons to explore.
Significance
The meaning of life! Do I feel special? I sure do in nature. When I am climbing mountains and exploring a new natural bio- universe I feel like the luckiest girl alive. If I am backpacking with someone else, you better believe they love this just as much as me. If they didn’t I would prefer going alone. Feeling of attachment, shared happiness and belonging – check!
Uncertainty
In nature, you never know what to expect so it is important to be mentally prepared for the unexpected. I learn something new every time I’m out there. Once we forgot the plugs for the tent and had to improvise with sticks and stones. I have used trees to dry clothes, used a cave to stay the night in bad weather and skied with a broken foot to get off the mountain. once we forgot our food but got a fish to fry over the bonfire, some mushrooms, and herbs that became a fabulous meal.
Growth
The great outdoors helps you Grow as a person and handle unexpected situations. It keeps you humble and grateful and makes you appreciate the little things in life – like a bath, even if it is freezing cold and in a glacier lake – or hot soup over the campfire with a good friend. Being in nature is a spiritual connection to something deep inside us. There are no words needed – you just feel it.
The wandering earth
When we meet others in the mountains we stop and share information about the wandering earth. Maybe we found great fishing waters, saw a flock of wild reindeer or someone might be lost, so we help them on their way. If an animal is in trouble we help them out and contact the rangers. It is like you know that whomever you meet out there will appreciate your know-how and vice versa.
The great outdoor is a tremendous fulfiller of my six human needs. That is probably why I keep exploring the outdoors.
Want to learn more hacks from Tony Robbins, I love these books.
