This Life: an experiment

There are only two main challenges in life:

(1) the physical — staying alive; and (2) the emotional or spiritual — finding a way to feel okay (or better) about yourself and the experience of being alive.

Humans aren’t naturally well equipped for either. But working together, we can build tools that make both less difficult.

And the more progress we unlock on (1), the more urgent it becomes to make progress on (2).

This Life is an experiment aimed at challenge (2): a tool designed to connect people in a way that gives each of us a better shot at living in greater peace with ourselves and reality (i.e., less burdened by negative emotion).

It’s built using the same steps critical for progress on any difficult challenge: actually trying in your own life, and witnessing something honest about how others try in theirs.

The app enables honesty and connection — a rare combination, but one that’s essential for spiritual progress. It does this in part by removing any incentive to perform or risk of awkward entanglements.

It’s an important time to run experiments in emotional and spiritual progress. We hope you’ll help us test this one.

This Life is audio-only. There are three main experiences.

Three experiences. One goal. Greater peace with yourself and reality.

Spoken Notes (solitude) Talk to yourself — maybe also to God. Say anything that might help move you toward more peace-inducing energy, or away from feeling burdened or vulnerable to negative emotion. You do it just for you. You record it to help yourself keep going, explore complex thoughts more deeply, and remember anything useful. A moment to consciously explore and shape your mind, your spirit, and your experience of existence.

Spiritual Hitchhiking (1-to-1) Two strangers, paired for just a moment. Neither is in the other’s contacts. For one day, each can hear a portion of what the other said. If you both choose, you can exchange a single text to wish each other well. No public credit. No risk of judgment. Just a glimpse into someone else’s reality and attempt to make progress — and, possibly, a small chance to help them try (even if just by offering a break from themselves).

One of the Day (1-to-the-many) With their permission, we all hear what one person said as they tried to steer their life toward greater peace — when they had no reason to perform. It’s a chance to benefit from the errors, insights, and energy of another person’s honest attempt, captured in real time.

We could really use your help. Thank you.