We are supposed to feel free, right?
Most of us live in a society where we are free to say what we want and, generally, go about life as we please. If you are reading this, it means that you have the power to google any question that may come to mind. No man owns you or I.
So why is it that we often feel trapped, feel so unfree, and what can we do about it?
Living a nomadic lifestyle is prescribed to few, but its values constitute ubiquitous wisdom.
Table of Contents
The Tale of the Sky Camel and the Wandering Boy
Once, long ago, beneath the vast blue sky of the Mongolian steppe, where the earth stretched endlessly and mountains guarded the horizon, there lived a poor herder boy named Batu. His father, a skilled rider, had vanished many years before while seeking the lost Sky Camel —a sacred creature whose breath could bring life to even the driest earth. Without his father, Batu grew up tending the family’s few goats and dreaming of life beyond the hills.
One evening, while returning his herd under the pink glow of the setting sun, Batu met an old man seated alone near the river. His face was wrinkled like cracked soil, and he wore a deel patched so many times it shimmered like a mosaic. A raven perched upon his shoulder, whispering into his ear.
“Boy,” the old man croaked, “your heart wanders farther than your feet. Where is it you wish to go?”
Batu, startled, bowed respectfully and answered, “Old Grandfather, my heart follows the wind across the steppe, to where the Sky Camel walks and where men are free like eagles.”
The old man’s eyes narrowed knowingly. “To chase the Sky Camel is to chase your own spirit. But such freedom is not gifted to those who seek comfort.” He drew from his robe a small silver ankle bone of a goat and handed it to Batu. “Take this. When the winds grow fierce and your path is hidden, roll the bone. It will show you the way.”
Batu thanked the man, but when he looked up again, both the stranger and his raven had vanished into thin air. The boy held the ankle bone tightly, knowing his fate had turned.
The Journey
The next dawn, Batu kissed his sleeping mother’s brow, gathered his horse, Tengri, and set out across the steppe. For days he rode beneath clouds like galloping sheep, the grass humming songs of ancestors beneath his horse’s hooves.
On the third day, Batu reached a desolate plain where the earth was cracked, and no grass dared grow. There, he found a fox caught in a hunter’s snare. Its golden eyes burned fiercely, though its body was weak.
“Free me, boy, and I will guide you,” the fox said, for in Mongolia, animals are wise and speak the language of men.
Batu released the fox, and it shook itself clean of dust. “The Sky Camel walks where men are willing to lose themselves,” the fox said cryptically before disappearing into a shadow of sagebrush.
Batu traveled further until his horse grew weary, and he, too, began to doubt. The ankle bone, silver and cool in his palm, reminded him of the old man’s words. He rolled it on the ground. It landed upright —a sign of luck.
Suddenly, from the hills came the sound of singing —low, deep, and strong as a river. Batu followed it and found a band of warriors under a broad white tent, their black and red banners fluttering like birds of prey. They were Jangar’s Men, the legendary warriors of the Bumba kingdom, who traveled the earth keeping honor alive.
“Where do you ride, boy?” boomed a warrior with a beard of braided silver.
“I seek the Sky Camel,” Batu answered boldly.
The warriors laughed, their voices rolling like thunder. “A boy cannot tame the wind, yet here you are,” the elder warrior said. “Stay the night, and we will share a tale.”
That night, around the fire, the warriors told stories of heroes —of Jangar, who kept his people safe and free, and of men who traded comfort for open skies. Batu listened closely, understanding that a nomad’s soul is not tethered to places or riches, but to the rhythm of the earth and the wisdom of the winds.
The Sky Camel
The next morning, Batu rolled the ankle bone once more, and it led him to a hidden valley. There, grazing by a crystal-clear lake, stood the Sky Camel —white as clouds, with eyes as blue as the heavens. It raised its head and looked at him, and Batu fell to his knees, overwhelmed by its presence.
“Why have you come?” the Sky Camel’s voice echoed in Batu’s mind, calm and eternal.
Batu answered, “I seek freedom —for myself and my people. I wish to walk as you do, where no man owns the land, and the wind is friend to all.”
The Sky Camel stepped forward, its hooves making no sound. “Freedom is not found, child. It is lived. To walk the steppe is to know that you belong not to the earth, but to the sky.”
With that, the Sky Camel exhaled a great breath. The wind rushed across the valley, turning the barren earth green, and the lake swelled with clear water. Batu’s heart swelled, too, as he understood what the Sky Camel had given him —the secret of balance, of living in harmony with nature, of never taking more than the earth can give.
When Batu returned home, the ankle bone glowed silver in his pocket, and he was no longer a boy but a man with the steppe in his soul. He taught his people the wisdom of the Sky Camel:
- To wander freely, for a home is carried in the heart.
- To honor nature, for it is life’s true giver.
- To follow the rhythm of the earth, for peace lies in its flow.
And so, under the vast blue sky of Mongolia, where mountains meet the heavens and rivers carve paths through grasslands, the people thrived —free, balanced, and unbound.
To this day, the Mongolian herders say that on quiet nights, when the wind sings low, the Sky Camel still walks, blessing the earth with each breath.
From Batu’s Nomadic Lifestyle to Modern Mongolian Values
When we aspire to master novel skills, we turn to the masters of the craft. I, for one (and I’m assuming you, too), am much more comfortable learning how to cook from a professional chef than I am from a college student.
The same goes for values, or particularly, the lessons learned from them. Mongolian values have had a storied past rooted in the nomadic lifestyle. On the Mongolian steppe, a nomadic lifestyle and the resulting freedom was not simply an ideal or even a value: it was a necessity for survival.
So then, who better to learn the nomadic lifestyle from than the originators themselves, those whose lives depended on it?
Mongolian Value #1: Freedom and Adaptability
Batu’s Nomadic Lifestyle:
The Sky Camel represents the ideal of a nomadic lifestyle: an untethered, yet purposeful freedom. In order to find this freedom, Batu intentionally chooses to be free, embracing and adapting to the land around him rather than remaining in his comfort zone.
Mongolian Values Today:
Modern urbanization has not halted the nomadic lifestyle as a Mongolian value. Freedom, both physical and as an antonym to mental rigidity, remains a keystone of modern Mongolian philosophy.
This may be best represented through herding culture, where Mongolians flee frigid and fiery weather within the same calendar year. Unsurprisingly, today’s urban Mongolians are no different; their entrepreneurial spirit, democratic values, and maintained independence in an increasingly interconnected world are all reminiscent of their rural roots and their fidelity to free living.
The Lesson:
Adaptability is often seen as a trait necessitated by changing times and forced change. But the truth is that adaptability allows for freedom. Freedom is not about the avoidance of such change, but rather about the capability to be unrestrained in your ability to adapt to change.
Mongolian Value #2: Balance with Nature
Batu’s Nomadic Lifestyle:
The steppe itself, the land upon which Mongolians live, serves a metaphysical guide. By listening to the steppe’s whispers, Batu aligns himself with the natural world. Success soon follows in the form of the life-giving Sky Camel, a direct cause-and-effect reward for following nature’s rhythm.
Mongolian Values Today:
The traditions and lessons from the past (namely in the form of sustainable grazing strategies) are at the forefront of Mongolian politics and strategy in the present day. Fighting against the threat of desertification and mining-related disruptions, many Mongolians invoke their culturally nomadic lifestyle and the Mongolian values associated with it in order to prioritize maintaining harmony with the land and preserving their sacred environment.
This sacredness is best seen through the continuation of animistic and shamanistic beliefs and practices, where nature (mountains, rivers, animals…) is illuminated as a central subject of reverence.
The Lesson:
Nature is more powerful than we can begin to imagine. We only reap its rewards when we learn to coexist and embrace nature, rather than trying to conquer it.
Mongolian Value #3: Resilience and Simplicity
Batu’s Nomadic Lifestyle:
Rewards come to those who endure. Such is the way in life, but even more so evidently in a nomadic lifestyle. Batu demonstrates a simple grit by facing the harsh landscape and life’s tribulations in order to survive.
Note, too, that Batu employs resilience to seek survival, not wealth, power, or fame. This predominates Mongolian values —seek what is necessary to survive and leave the excess for the rest of the Earth.
Mongolian Values Today:
Harsh weather has been the catalyst to a cluster of Mongolian values stemming from a nomadic lifestyle, including hudur (grit or toughness) and tuvshin (calm composure). These characteristics pair with and are evident in the traditional ger: a portable home that embodies adaptability, resourcefulness, and simplicity. Even among modernized urban-dwellers, minimalism remains a deeply ingrained value.
The Lesson:
Resilience is powerful. Simplicity is powerful. Together they teach us that strength does not come from comfort, but rather from the ability to persevere.
Mongolian Value #4: The Journey
Batu’s Nomadic Lifestyle:
Batu does not simply travel; he moves through life. His journey is one of physical movement, but also one one of spiritual and emotional transformation. The item of desire is the Sky Camel —not a tangible obtainable, but rather symbolic of untethered movement throughout life.
Mongolian Values Today:
The life of those embracing a nomadic lifestyle is a series of journeys, each one tied to specific life phases and lessons learned. Even among non-nomads, Mongolian values demonstrate a deep embrace for a continuous path of exploration, whether it be in the workplace, schooling, or personal life.
The Lesson:
The growth and fulfillment that comes from the journey is equally, if not more important, than the physical successes and achievements of life.
Mongolian Values Summed: Movement as a Spiritual Journey
Mongolian values and the resulting nomadic lifestyle all stem from the connection between land and the spiritual realm. This is no more evident than in the most prominent Mongolian value of all: the power of movement.
Mongolian herders take meticulous precautions to remain on the move and avoid overgrazing. To them, stagnation is dangerous. Likewise, Mongolians, past and present, take meticulous precautions to remain on the move in their own lives, whether it be physical or as means for personal growth. To them, too, stagnation is dangerous.
The Mongolian steppe is a teacher in itself. To remain in one place, is to remain ignorant of the lessons of life. This notion is reinforced through Mongolian folktales and epics, such as the Jangar Epic that tells of heroes that must travel far and wide to obtain the wisdom of the world.
In short, we must go to learn. Go to become wise. Through movement, we open ourselves up to new experiences, the direct fuel for wisdom.
How To Use Mongolian Values
The Dangers of Our Society
I suspect that few of us have had experience packing up a ger. Nevertheless, traditional Mongolian values and the nomadic lifestyle are highly translatable to our modern world —a world where many of us have had experience with anxiety, burnout, or overconsumption.
In contrast to the Mongolian value of living free, and contrary to my own country’s affirmation that “all men are born free”, our society seems to unironically advertise that freedom is earned.
The truth is, by living free and not having to earn freedom, we put ourselves in a position to confront the terrors of our modern society, namely anxiety, burnout, and overconsumption.
1. Combatting Anxiety: Freedom, Adaptability, and Balance with Nature
Anxiety thrives when we try to control what can’t be controlled. The nomadic lifestyle and Mongolian values, especially freedom and adaptability, teach us to loosen our grip. Batu didn’t overcome the harsh steppe by forcing his will on it —he adapted, moving with its rhythm instead of against it. Freedom doesn’t mean eliminating challenges; it means choosing how you respond to them.
Nature, too, offers a calming wisdom. Mongolians align their lives with the cycles of the land, letting it guide them. What if we did the same? Take a walk, sit quietly, or simply listen to the world around you —it’s a reminder that life moves in seasons, and no storm lasts forever.
By embracing freedom, adapting with grace, and grounding ourselves in nature’s rhythm, we can meet anxiety with the steady wisdom of the steppe. After all, wide-open spaces aren’t just external —they’re internal, too.
2. Preventing Burnout: Resilience, Simplicity, and the Journey
Burnout is what happens when we sprint through life as if it’s a race to the finish line. The nomadic lifestyle reminds us to shift our perspective. Resilience shows us how to endure the hard moments, while simplicity teaches us to lighten our load. Batu didn’t carry unnecessary baggage on his journey, and neither should we.
But there’s another piece to this puzzle: the value of the journey itself. Batu’s story isn’t just about reaching the Sky Camel; it’s about what he learned along the way. What if we treated our own lives like that? Instead of obsessing over results, we could focus on the lessons we’re gaining right now.
To avoid burnout, we need to slow down, simplify, and appreciate the steps we’re taking —not just the destination we’re chasing. As Mongolians know well, the path and the steppe itself holds meaning.
3. Addressing Overconsumption: Freedom, Balance, and Simplicity
We live in a world that tells us to want more, buy more, consume more. Mongolian values cut through that noise with refreshing clarity. Freedom teaches us that we’re not bound to these endless desires —we can choose to live differently. Batu sought the Sky Camel, not for riches but for survival and purpose. That’s a lesson for all of us: to seek what we truly need and release the rest.
Balance with nature is another antidote. Mongolians tread lightly, respecting the land so it can provide for future generations. Imagine if we did the same —not just with the planet, but with our own energy and resources.
Finally, simplicity. The beauty of a nomadic lifestyle lies in how little it requires. When we embrace simplicity, we make space for what matters most. Less stuff, less stress, less noise —freedom doesn’t come from having more; it comes from needing less.
Mongolian Values, The Nomadic Lifestyle, and AI
The Mongolian steppe offers lessons that transcend time and place. Its values —freedom, balance, resilience, and the journey —aren’t just survival strategies for herders or poetic ideals to admire from afar. They’re tools we can use to face modern challenges, from the weight of anxiety and burnout to the pressure to consume endlessly. And now, with the rise of AI reshaping the way we live, these values feel more relevant than ever. How do we stay human in a world increasingly driven by algorithms? The answer may lie in embracing the timeless wisdom of the nomadic lifestyle.
1. The Nomadic Lifestyle Lets Us Stay Human In A Predictive World
AI thrives on predicting and optimizing. It narrows your choices, suggesting what to watch, what to buy, and even what to believe. But freedom, the ability to think and choose beyond those predictions, is a uniquely human strength.
Adaptability, too, is ours alone. AI struggles when life throws a curveball or veers off-script, while humans find ways to improvise and thrive in the chaos. As the world becomes increasingly shaped by algorithms, we have to ask ourselves: are we following the path laid out for us, or are we carving our own? True freedom isn’t about rejecting structure —it’s about remaining flexible enough to reshape it when life demands.
2. The Nomadic Lifestyle Lets Us Find Reality Beyond the Virtual
AI is pulling us deeper into virtual spaces. It’s easy to get lost in scrolling, streaming, and simulated realities. But the Mongolian value of balance reminds us that we’re not just digital beings; we’re grounded in the natural world.
Nature is messy, unpredictable, and alive —everything AI isn’t. It teaches patience and perspective in a way no algorithm ever could. By stepping outside, touching grass (literally), and reconnecting with the world around us, we stay grounded. Nature reminds us that not everything can or should be optimized. Some things —like watching the sun set or feeling the wind on your face —simply are.
3. The Nomadic Lifestyle Lets Us Cut Through the Noise
AI might promise to make life easier, but sometimes it just adds to the noise. More choices, more notifications, more mental clutter. That’s where the value of simplicity steps in —focusing on what’s essential and letting the rest go.
Resilience works hand in hand with simplicity. In a world that moves faster than ever, it’s resilience that helps us weather the storm of constant change. AI may handle the data, but when things go sideways, it’s our grit that keeps us moving. Together, resilience and simplicity remind us that strength doesn’t come from having everything; it comes from knowing what you need and staying steady when the rest falls away.
4. The Nomadic Lifestyle Lets Us Live Beyond Optimization
AI is made for efficiency. It’s all about shortcuts and speed, getting you from point A to point B as fast as possible. But life doesn’t work that way, nor should it.
The Mongolian value of the journey reminds us that growth doesn’t come from the destination. It comes from the process. The detours, challenges, and unexpected moments —these are where wisdom is born. AI might give us knowledge, but it’s the journey that transforms knowledge into something deeper. Wisdom is found in the living, not in the shortcuts.
AI Summed
AI is changing everything about how we interact with the world, but it’s not changing us —at least, not unless we let it. Mongolian values remind us that wisdom isn’t something AI can deliver. It’s something we gain through freedom, balance, resilience, and embracing the journey. In a world increasingly shaped by machines, it’s these values that will keep us human.
The Nomadic Lifestyle Playbook: Mongolian Values
While most of us can’t pack up a ger and wander the steppe, we can incorporate Mongolian values into our daily lives. Here’s how:
1. Embrace Freedom and Adaptability
- Practice letting go: The next time life throws you a curveball, ask yourself, “What can I control? What can I release?” Focus on adapting rather than resisting.
- Try something new: Break out of your routine. Take a different route to work, try a new hobby, or engage in a spontaneous adventure. Freedom starts with expanding your comfort zone.
2. Find Balance with Nature
- Reconnect with the natural world: Spend time outdoors, whether it’s a hike, a walk in the park, or simply sitting quietly under the open sky. Notice the rhythms of the seasons and align yourself with them.
- Simplify your impact: Reduce waste, support sustainable practices, and make choices that honor the earth. Treat nature as a partner, not a resource to exploit.
3. Cultivate Resilience and Simplicity
- Lighten your load: Physically and emotionally, declutter what’s unnecessary. Ask yourself, “Do I really need this?” The less you carry, the further you can go.
- Build resilience through small challenges: Push yourself gently outside your comfort zone. Whether it’s enduring a tough workout or staying calm in a stressful situation, each step strengthens your grit.
4. Value the Journey
- Celebrate progress, not just results: Reflect on what you’re learning as you go. Keep a journal of small victories and lessons.
- Stay curious: Approach life with a learner’s mindset. Each new experience is an opportunity to grow, just like Batu’s journey to find the Sky Camel.
5. Live Simply, Live Fully
- Prioritize what matters: Make time for meaningful connections, personal growth, and moments of joy. Simplicity isn’t about having less; it’s about valuing more.
- Take intentional pauses: In a world that moves fast, create space to breathe. Enjoy a cup of tea, watch the sunset, or simply sit in silence.
By embracing these practices, we can bring the wisdom of Mongolian values and the nomadic lifestyle into our modern lives. They remind us that freedom isn’t about escaping life’s challenges but about meeting them with grace, resilience, and a spirit of exploration. As Batu discovered, the journey itself is the gift.
Let the steppe be your teacher. Move, adapt, and thrive —for to live free is to truly live.
Conclusion: Mongolian Values and Lessons from a Nomadic Lifestyle
The Mongolian steppe teaches us that freedom isn’t about escaping life’s challenges —it’s about moving with them. It’s not about owning more, controlling more, or doing more. It’s about living lighter, simpler, and more connected to the rhythm of the world around us.
When I think about modern life, with all its distractions and demands, I’m struck by how much we could gain by adopting these timeless values. Freedom isn’t something you earn —it’s something you choose. Resilience doesn’t mean pushing harder —it means enduring with purpose. And the journey? It’s where the meaning lies, not in the destination.
In a world increasingly shaped by algorithms, endless notifications, and the pressure to consume, the lessons of the steppe remind us to step back. To adapt, to simplify, to move intentionally. Maybe we’ll never pack up a ger or wander the plains on horseback, but we can still carry these values in our hearts. After all, freedom isn’t found on the outside —it’s lived on the inside.
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