On transgression

I have learned from what a mid-20th Century author, Georges Bataille, came to label “transgression”, which also applies to a wind of thought implicit in Nietzsche. You work out what’s limiting you; what’s keeping you down. Generally it’s the internalization of moral inhibitions. You need to become the master (mistress) of your moral values, not allowing them to rule you.

To teach your superego who is boss, you need to act against the values you’ve internalized that don’t serve you well. I had a hell of a lot of these — values of always inquiring of my conscience, divulging the contents of my conscience to anyone who asked and making my life subordinate to creating a good impression. Ask yourself if these principles are really serving you, or are they serving an empty ideal — a pie in the sky “god”. If they don’t serve you, then transgress.

I had become quite ill with my inwardly-directed aggression.

Suppose you always turn up at work on time for fear of creating a bad impression or even being reprimanded. What is the worst that can happen? Condemnation from your boss of condemnation from your superego? When I answered a similar question, I became sure that my boss didn’t frighten me in the slightest. I feared my condemnation. I began with a small transgression, going against my rules, and found out nothing bad happened. I’d just given myself a bit more freedom to behave according to my interests, and not according to my rules. That was just a beginning, but when you become less of a routine rule-follower, you open up to be able to think more deeply and broadly.

Suddenly, I had more options, and began to use them.  This has worked out very well for me. I was suffering from a lot of internal pressure. That is gone.