A person’s mentality is the driving passion behind the way they live their life; The way they channel their passions and obtain their goals. The Norsemen Mentality is something that has been a driving force behind this voyage. To explain this, there will have to be a journey and a dispelling of many falsified details along the way that have been distorted by the explanation of history.
When you hear the word Norsemen, you likely envision scenes of bearded, horned helmet, shield, and weapon-clad lunatics charging towards the enemy lines—thirsting for death. Wishing death for either their opponents or themselves, so that they may enter Valhalla—Valhöll in Old Norse—meaning the hall of the fallen.
A common misconception of Norsemen is that they were Vikings. Commonly they used the term víkingr, in Old Norse, to refer to “someone who went on expeditions, usually abroad, usually by sea, and usually in a group with other víkingar (the plural)...The activity of víking is not specified further, either. It could certainly include raiding, but was not restricted to that.” (Jesch, 2017). Therefore, “Vikings” were not just sea-roving bandits or pirates. Now many of these “Vikings” were Norsemen, but it is important to point out that not all Norsemen were Vikings. If one is not pillaging, plundering, or killing they are no longer Vikings (or pirates) they are simply Norsemen (Shippey, 2018).
The Norse were a group of people originating from Scandinavia—what is known today as the countries of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, with the additions of Finland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands being argued for inclusion as well (brittanica.org). These people were some of the most resilient individuals. They were determined to carve out a life for themselves and their families in some of the harshest climates and worst agricultural soils in the world. Their persistence formed a steadfast mentality that dominated every aspect of their passion for a better life. We can translate this determination and passion into our physical fitness. I want to help you to achieve things that currently may not be possible in your mind.
Now this first post is not intended to be an entire retelling of history of the Norsemen—we will tackle more of that in subsequent blogs—but I wanted to shed some light on the strength and mentality that these individuals possessed. Every mentality is encompassed by a set of virtues, or values, that helps drives the mindset. From my personal beliefs, it is something that can be applied to daily life and used to accomplish things that many people will never achieve.
In future blog posts here at Norsemen Nutrition, I will be highlighting, and breaking down, a set of 9 specific values. Out of many different values, I believe these 9 to be the most important, and imperative, to start down this path. I believe these values, and mindset can ultimately transform your thinking and ability to succeed. A brief breakdown of these values are:
The Refusal to Give in:
This may be the single most important thing for success the removal of the idea of failing—never backing down. In all of history, the Norsemen show this to perfection. The idea of giving in was never an option by refusing to allow for the crushing blow of failure. Everyone experiences it. I have. You have. It is going to happen. But, this does not mean you give in and let that failure overtake you.
The Ambition to Succeed:
The desire and driving force to achieve something. Without ambition, any goals that are set will ultimately fail and lead to that devastating action of giving in.
Loyalty:
A value that a lot of people overlook. It is the loyalty to yourself, your mindset, and the driving force behind the behaviors that you embody. The loyalty to your family, friends, brotherhood, or community. Anyone that has served in the military, the police force, or first responders knows firsthand the importance of this. We are all loyal to something. We must first examine and determine what that loyalty is.
Honesty:
Honesty, or integrity, is a staple of the Norsemen mentality. The question must be asked, “If one cannot be honest with themselves first, can they be honest with those around them?” Honesty encompasses a large range of actions. If it fails, the pursuit of most goals will never even have a chance to succeed.
The Pursuit of Knowledge
The pursuit of knowledge is imperative. As human beings we are sponges for knowledge; we should continue to fill that sponge. As you learn, you become more valuable to those around you and you feel more accomplished. No, I am not talking about college degrees—even though that is an accomplishment—I am talking the ability to learn new skills. For example, carpentry, languages, blacksmithing, archery, first aid, etc. The list is endless. Without the pursuit of knowledge, the Norsemen likely would not have stepped foot outside of their homelands. Ultimately, you are here because you are in pursuit of knowledge.
Strength:
We all know the importance of strength—especially if you have attempted to workout for even a few minutes—but this goes beyond that. True strength is the ability to push back, to resist, and to stand tall. It circles back to that first value; The Refusal to Give in. The Norsemen mentality is not only physical strength, but becoming mentally and physically strong as well.
Discipline:
At the very primitive explanation of the term, discipline is the commitment to training yourself to a specific standard, or pattern of behavior. Without discipline there can be no improvement. Practice is necessary to hone your craft, whatever that is. In the gym, it requires the simplicity of setting aside a specific time to work out, to say no to that processed food, remaining sober, and the resiliency to workout, even when your mind initially says no. It is important to acknowledge this is an individual endeavor. Norsemen Nutrition can provide you with the tools for the arsenal, but you must do it yourself.
Self-Reliance:
The simple explanation of this is forming an idea of self-trust. The belief and confidence in one’s own power and capabilities. As mentioned in the value of discipline no one is going to do the work for you. No one is going to make you push past your limitations and no one is going to come hold your hand. If you are looking for that you are in the wrong place. As the Norsemen believe, the gods will do nothing that you WILL NOT do for yourself.
Challenge Fate:
This is the desire to be bold, take risk, and the willingness to take on danger when it shows itself. In life, to challenge fate takes a sense of commitment. The idea of doing something new, doing something that may frighten you, or just being able to be different is all wrapped into this. The Norsemen believed fate was predetermined. Destiny was woven by sacred influence and a higher power known as the Norms. Yet, they still took on this challenge and would try to change their outcome. If this is not a showcase of courage—taking on fate itself then I do not know what is. In the gym, if you are not willing to become courageous, overcoming those plateaus or breaking through PR’s will essentially be impossible.
As these blogs continue, I will elaborate on what these values mean to me, how they relate to the Norsemen Mentality, how they relate to the Norsemen of old, and ultimately how they can begin to transform you.
Welcome to the Norsemen Brotherhood.
Jesch, Judith. “What Does the Word 'Viking' Really Mean?” The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2020, theconversation.com/what-does-the-word-viking-really-mean-75647.
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Scandinavia". Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Jul. 2019, https://www.britannica.com/place/Scandinavia. Accessed 2 March 2021.
Shippey, Tom. Laughing Shall I Die: Lives and Deaths of the Great Vikings. Reaktion Books, 2018.