I’ve never had a life coach, so I decided to get one—this is what happened

When I think of a life coach, I picture that relentlessly upbeat person who meets every crisis with a serene smile and a herbal tea. They’re the 'winners' of the world, overflowing with a brand of boundless positivity that – perhaps it’s just my British sensibilities – leaves me feeling distinctly nauseous.

That’s why I was pleased to learn that Mark Manson, author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck*, had developed a life coach app. Hanson is known for his aversion to what he calls “toxic positivity" in favor of honest feedback, and the app promised that same dose of honesty. I knew I had to try it.

It's called Purpose, and it behaves like a conversational mentor with which you can share your thoughts. It responds with AI-generated answers to help guide you through specific challenges and thought patterns ...