And maybe you will catch a glimpse of a world where all things are abundant and free of fear.
There is a website that scares every writer who tries to use it, aptly titled "The Most Dangerous Writing App."
With a very simple design that consists of only a box for you to type in, with or without a prompt, the function of the site is simple:
Keep writing. Don't stop. If you stop typing for 5 seconds, everything you've written disappears and you have to start over.
No saves. No retrievals.
Meant to help overcome writer's block, the site is extremely effective in achieving its goal: to get you to write without judgment and second thoughts.
To keep the gears turning, to put anything of all levels of quality on the page. To get you out of a rut and eventually stumble upon an idea.
But many have reported feeling anxious or intimidated when using it. They fear they might accidentally write something good only to watch it disappear.
There's just something about the threat of losing everything.
What do I do when I can't look back on what I wrote??
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But why should we be afraid of losing it?
I think this reveals something about our attachments and the paranoia of loss.
Almost every time we write, we write for posterity. It could be a fleeting idea we want to refer to later, or notes from a class lecture, or an article for others to later read and be informed or entertained.
The act of putting something down in ink on paper is the act of preservation. And that's a wonderful thing. Thank goodness humans invented writing that allows us to study history.
But if we think about it, we have become obsessed with preservation.
Always worrying about the future, we ensure that everything is recorded.
I might need it later. I might need it later. I might need it later.
We are hoarders without even realizing it.
I know it sounds crazy, but think about it for a sec.
What happens when you write on air?
First, you can’t be attached.
When you see that all your work is fleeting, you learn that you can’t hold on to it. You have to learn to LET GO. And it reveals an important truth:
Your thoughts and emotions are just as temporary as words in the sky. Here’s why it matters:
When you experience intense emotion — fear, pain, anger — it feels like your whole world is engulfed by that emotion. You can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. You can’t see the other side.
But when you realize that the thoughts in your head and your emotions are as fleeting as writing on air, you learn detachment.
And detachment means that you are no longer controlled by your emotions. You are free.
You are the sky that the storm clouds roll through. They eventually disappear. You remain.
Second, when you write on air — who can read it?
Answer: only those who are present.
When you write on air, you can’t be preoccupied with the past nor the future. You will miss what is in front of you.
To know and appreciate what is written in the sky, you must be completely present.
And the present is where you find bliss.
Third, there is no such thing as perfectionism when you write on air.
Because your errors are fleeting. This is an important thing to understand.
By writing on air, you realize that any mistake is temporary. Literally vanishing into thin air. So there is no room nor reason to get hung up on your imperfections.
This ties back to the first point about attachment: you naturally become detached from the result of your work. This way, you can put in the best work you can without anxiety.
The Most Dangerous Writing App teaches this beautifully.
You see — preservation is the instinct of survival.
We save money for the rainy days. We store food in the fridge.
These are good things. But notice what we do with our food if we are concerned about survival.
Or rather, what we don’t do.
We don’t decorate it, or try to balance the spices, or make sure there isn’t too much salt in it.
Who are more likely to turn food into an art? Those who aren’t concerned about their next meal.
This is one difference between the scarce and abundant mindsets. The scarce mindset sees no room for play; the abundant mindset is free to create, experiment, and live in the present.
This is the spirit of Art. Think about listening to music or watching a dance. These pleasures are just as fleeting as writing on air. But they leave a lasting impression on you… if you are present enough to appreciate it.
The spirit of Art is a luxurious one, lifting the soul to transcend the stresses of survival and the wearing of time, even if for just a moment.
Maybe by writing on air you will catch a glimpse of a world where all things are abundant and free of fear.
Of course, I say “writing on air” figuratively. But maybe you can try it literally and see what happens.
I bet you will discover something incredible.
Multi-passionate creative and cultural philosopher. I love talking psychology, culture, education, and anything else that deals with living as better people.