Oh while I live, to be the ruler of life, not a slave, to meet

"Oh while I live, to be the ruler of life, not a slave, to meet life as a powerful conqueror, and nothing exterior to me will ever take command of me." These stirring words from Walt Whitman capture the essence of individual sovereignty and personal mastery. Whitman, a poet of great vision, speaks to the heart of what it means to live life not as a passive recipient, but as an active participant, a conqueror of one's own destiny. His statement is a call to embrace life with courage, purpose, and a willingness to face every challenge with the conviction that we hold the reins of our own existence. Life is not to be feared, nor to be controlled by external forces, but to be met head-on with power and dignity.

In the ancient world, the idea of ruling one’s life was deeply revered. Socrates, the great philosopher, taught that wisdom and self-control were the cornerstones of a life well-lived. For Socrates, freedom was found not in external wealth or power, but in the ability to govern one's own mind and actions. He famously said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." By examining our thoughts, actions, and desires, we can align ourselves with virtue and make decisions that define our character. In this sense, the true ruler of a person’s life is their own reason, their inner compass, not the demands of society or the whims of chance.

Similarly, the Stoics, particularly Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, emphasized the importance of mastering the self in order to live a free and virtuous life. Epictetus, born a slave, taught that freedom is not determined by external circumstances, but by our attitude and response to them. He argued that while we cannot control what happens around us, we always have the power to control our reactions. For the Stoics, to be the ruler of life was to exercise control over the mind and emotions, finding peace in the face of external chaos. This Stoic ideal aligns with Whitman’s belief that nothing exterior should ever take command of us—true freedom comes from within.

In more recent history, Nelson Mandela exemplified this principle in the face of oppression. Imprisoned for 27 years under apartheid, Mandela was subjected to physical confinement, yet he never allowed the system to control his spirit or mind. Despite his incarceration, he remained a ruler of his life, mentally and emotionally. His ability to maintain dignity, to stand tall with resolve, and to cultivate a vision of freedom not only for himself but for his people is a testament to the inner strength and mastery that Whitman speaks of. Mandela’s life teaches us that even when circumstances seem beyond our control, we have the power to maintain our humanity and will.

The lesson here is one of profound empowerment: we must not allow external circumstances to dictate our lives. Whether it be fear, societal pressures, tragedy, or success, we are the rulers of our own lives when we take full responsibility for our thoughts, actions, and responses. Self-mastery is not about controlling everything around us, but about controlling how we engage with the world. To live as a conqueror of life is to rise above the chaos and act from a place of inner strength, clarity, and purpose.

To apply this wisdom in our own lives, we must first examine our relationship with external forces. Do we allow external expectations, society’s standards, or personal setbacks to rule over us? Are we reactive, letting the world shape our identity, or do we actively shape our responses, remaining grounded in our core values? Like Whitman, we can choose to meet life boldly, with the intention of remaining the master of our own destiny, regardless of what unfolds around us. By doing so, we cultivate a life of authenticity, where we are the creators of our own narrative, rather than victims of circumstance.

Lastly, Whitman’s message reminds us that life is fleeting, and to live in such a way that we allow nothing outside of us to take command is to truly live with freedom and purpose. Let us embrace the power of our own will, the strength of our own decisions, and the clarity of our own vision. By doing so, we can walk the earth as rulers of our lives, unshaken by the storms around us, and ever moving forward with courage, integrity, and honor. This is the path of a true conqueror—a ruler of life itself.