# Research, Think, Do, Reflect By:: [[Ross Jackson]] 2023-11-15 When confronted with something novel, it is often helpful to research it. What can one discover by Googling, looking at Wikipedia, reading the sources referenced at the end of the Wikipedia article, and asking around? Once one has researched, it is often helpful to think about it. This thinking can be either direct or indirect. One can let the topic rest in the back of one’s mind, go to a coffeehouse and read a book, and just let the insights ripen for a while. Eventually, one should act (or act by not acting as a strategic decision and not as an unintended consequence). This informed action ideally reflects what one thinks is best or is the best one can do, given the constraints of the situation. Upon completion, one should reflect on all that transpired. If there are better ways to research, do those next time. If one spends too much time (or not enough) thinking, improve that aspect. If the action was too little too late or too much too soon, try to learn from that as well. It is also useful to assess how one feels about it all. If the sequence, when it was experienced, caused one anxiety and frustration but was followed up by indifference, there is value in understanding this. Maybe one can be less anxious and frustrated if one realizes that when all is said and done, it won’t make that much difference in the quality of one’s life. This process works because it is the best humans can do. #### Related Items [[Research]] [[Thinking]] [[Reflection]] [[Process]] [[Quality]] [[Life]]