The first attitude of research is to immerse myself in my subject. To gather all information that I can get about it, and take that in, without necessarily already structuring that. To open myself, as much as possible, to that subject, and to anything that is closely or remotely related to it. To let myself being drawn to it, with curiosity, interest, appetite. Without these qualities, I won’t learn much about my subject, I will only be able to talk superficially about it when others do, without any insight or deep appreciation.
The second attitude of research is to direct my attention fully to my subject, to learn from it, or about it. To structure my understanding, establish links, formulate hypotheses / make assumptions, ask questions that bring me further. To use my will to make progress, as a manager of my research. Without these attitudes, I will get stuck in what I already think I know about the subject, and I‘ll most likely only be seeking a confirmation of the answers I already believe to have.
The third attitude of research is to surrender myself to that what I don’t know yet about my subject. To let myself be surprised by the unknown, armed with my openness and my focus. To verify my assumptions, test them, potentially reject them, and adapt them. To discuss my experiments and experiences with others on the same road, and to check my findings with their thoughts and results. To gradually sharpen my personal intuition and to follow my questions deeper and deeper, pushed by my sense of truth. If I can’t adopt this approach, I‘ll get lost in a mire of doubts, and ultimately end nowhere.
The fourth attitude of research is to humbly accept the findings about my subject. When I find something that might be in conflict with my initial assumptions, or which disagrees with my beliefs, but which is the outcome of my experiences, trying to receive it with benevolence and softness. Adapt myself in a supple way to the reality I discovered, and share it with others. If I can’t bring myself to muster that, I won’t be able to pick the fruit of my labours, and I’ll fall into an alternative and false reality, where I distort my findings, so that they fit more into the images I care about.
The fifth attitude of research is to be captured by a continuous (lifelong) learning about my subject. When I temporarily get stuck, to let it be for a while, but to take it up again, as soon as a new intuition pops up, or additional information comes along. To honour my inner motivation, and to regularly come back to it. Without this drive and this resolve, my research might get stopped at a major roadblock, and my involvement might remain rather stale, or my progress might be only patchy, until this motor more reliably propels me further, without many glitches.