The starting point
Purpose can emerge through commitments and experiments rather than a single revelation. Notice what you value, who you want to serve, and which responsibilities you can sustain. A useful next step may be small and reversible.
What is hypothetical
This discussion of simulating life goals and impacts includes a design scenario from the manuscript. Read proposed capabilities conditionally. A real product would need evidence for its exact use, a clear account of errors and limitations, and meaningful control for the person using it. An engaging demonstration alone would not establish a health or learning benefit.
Simulating Life Goals and Impacts
Beyond roles and careers, VR could allow users to simulate achieving certain life goals, such as helping others, creating art, or advancing knowledge. By visualizing the impact of these goals in a virtual environment, users can explore how each aligns with their desire for contribution, impact, and fulfillment.
Imagine a VR experience where you see the impact of creating a community garden. You witness people gathering, children playing, and food being shared, all resulting from your efforts. This simulation could help you realize your purpose lies in community work and environmental sustainability.
Focus on the values behind each scenario rather than the external rewards. The feeling of contribution and fulfillment is often more telling than the outcome itself.
Identify core values: Choose VR scenarios that align with your values, such as helping others or creating beauty.
Focus on the feeling of impact: Notice whether achieving each goal gives you a sense of fulfillment.
Experiment with various goals: Explore different types of contributions to see what resonates.
Balance VR with hands-on impact: Consider how you can pursue these goals in real life, even in small ways.
Put the idea in context
As technology advances, VR is poised to offer us new and immersive ways to explore our purpose. Imagine stepping into a virtual world where you can “try on” different roles and paths, experiencing various careers, lifestyles, or vocations without real-world consequences. Simulated Life Purpose Scenarios in VR would allow individuals to test different life directions, providing insights into what might resonate most deeply with them.
Sources & further reading
- NIMH: Psychotherapieswww.nimh.nih.gov
- FDA: Augmented and virtual reality in medical deviceswww.fda.gov