As you mention well: the awareness of action is necessary on our actions, making each act worthy and meaningful; a life without reflection is not worth living, it is the life of a dehumanized automaton. There must be an effort of our part towards life itself to give it a reason to be: reflect on our environment and apply our knowledge in it. Knowledge itself worth nothing if it cannot be applied (it becomes vain know) an empty appetite that does not add any value to our lives.