What’s The Difference Between a Conqueror and a Ruler Of Self? Which is Better to Be??

Both reasons can be adduced for dominating oneself and subjugating oneself. Although these concepts are related, they subtly diverge when it comes to achieving self-mastery. One continues to conquer themselves and others even after they have already conquered a place or group of people.

Conquering Over Oneself: To conquer oneself suggests a more proactive—even belligerent—fight against negative behavior, attitude, or limitations. It’s what we do with our inner hurdles that matter, through discipline, willpower, and a conscious effort to squash negative aspects of ourselves.

Another may have conquered once or twice or perhaps even a few times, but eventually, a ruler ceases to conquer and pivots to ruling. Eventually, the ruler gets comfortable in what he has achieved and begins to consolidate & compress resources to make ruling easier. You begin to lose your edge, your burning desire for advancement. You become satisfied.🤮Whereas a conqueror continues to develop and expand regardless of the successful conquests he has had in the past.

Ruling Over Oneself:  To rule oneself is to consciously control oneself; thoughts, emotions, and actions. It’s a matter of establishing a wise and kind of authority inside, acting from reason and intention instead of being thrown around by urges or pressures from outside.

A conqueror can always reign over himself and those he has conquered. A ruler, however, has the proclivity to focus solely on his reign over others and perhaps himself, yet neglects conquering.  This poses the question though, is it better to rule over oneself or to conquer oneself? 

Which Is Better?

Both words are useful, and their appropriateness can depend on context: Although both approaches are legitimate, I now find that conquering oneself is the stronger and more often necessary method to implement drastic personal improvement.

"Ruling over oneself" at times might be more of a passive resignation or control of objectionable traits, a slow horse-trading rather than firm action. Though it holds out a path to peace, it lacks the immediacy, revolutionary power required when faced by firmly ingrained bad habits, self-destructive behavior, or strong desires that block progress.

To conquer oneself demands a more forceful and active assault on intrapersonal foes. It embraces the truth that there are aspects of ourselves that must be actively repressed or eliminated in order to be able to really move forward. Not always hatred of ourselves, but a will to push through what sets us back from achieving our potential. It's about waging a conscious battle against our frailties, fears, and self-sabotaging habits, leading to an inner sense of empowerment and genuine, long-term change. It's the disciplined warrior within us, willing to fight for a better version of ourselves.

The Conqueror's Constant Evolution

This perspective argues for a key distinction: while a conqueror is driven by an endless desire for continuous improvement and expansion, a ruler becomes accustomed to the comfort of his achievements. A ruler, having established his territory, directs his efforts toward consolidating his victories and conserving his resources. He appreciates stability and effectiveness, to the extent of permitting himself to become lax in his accomplishments and even rest on the laurels for their former triumphs. Although this pivot is self-evidently sensible to consolidate power, it also has the potential to blunt the very sharpness that brought them their early success. The fierce aspiration that characterized their ascent succumbs to a complacency that only begets inertia. 

Conversely, the conqueror is one who is in daily pursuit of new parameters, those internally and those externally. You See, their past victories aren’t stops, but stations, each win powering a bigger dream. They don't settle; no, they take what they learn, adjust their approach, and keep working to overcome new challenges. This process of conquest lives on, nurturing an inherent quest for betterment and innovation. This drive to stretch the envelope, outdo themselves, and keep reinventing everything ensures they never truly lose their edge or continue to just “go with the flow”.

The compulsion to push boundaries, to surpass those who have done it before them, and to always evolve becomes part of who they are, so that they never do, in fact, lose their edge or become complacent in the everyday. To conquer, simply becomes ingrained into who they are. Thus maintaining a beautiful quota of consistency and greatness, in its purest form.