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Since becoming a researcher, thinking has become the majority of my work. I'm always thinking about something because I can't do my job unless I have something new to say. Thinking back, even before I became a researcher, when I was working for a company, there were many certain phases of thinking, but fortunately now I can think about things more comfortably. What on earth has changed about me?

First of all, it is important to know the subject well. This does not mean that solving the problem has become easier as knowledge has increased, but rather that I can adjust the difficulty level myself. Easy mode is boring, so I sometimes try playing on hard mode. Secondly, it is important to accept that there will be some times when I cannot solve the problem. If I try my best, I will learn something even if I cannot solve it. It is not a bad idea to set a bonus that makes I even happier if I solve it. Finally, even if there are knowledges or skills that I lack, I may be relaxed and think that I can learn them now. In my field of expertise, economics, new methods are being developed and the amount of data available is expanding. It can be a joy to be able to cook new ingredients with new techniques.

When I graduated from university and started working at a company, I was inexplicably anxious. I was not even sure where the problem I needed to solve was, and I was convinced that if I couldn't solve it, I would be a failure. I was trying to make do with my situation, even though I had nothing. There is a part of the mysterious anxiety I felt when I was young that is still connected to the present. Still, I'm thinking about what I can do to share at least some tips for thinking comfortably with someone younger.

(DM)

No. 1163