--- title: "Acting With Intention: What It Means and How to Make It a…" description: "Discover how shifting your focus from macro goals to "in-between" moments can cultivate intentional living, leading to greater joy, peace, and connection." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/#person", "name": "Christian Espinosa", "url": "https://christianespinosa.com/", "image": "https://christianespinosa.com/__l5e/assets-v1/de07e44b-a8e0-4bcc-bcb0-13aec15421f1/headshot-front.jpg", "sameAs": [ "https://www.facebook.com/christian.espinosa.official", "https://x.com/Ironracer", "https://www.instagram.com/christian.espinosa.official/", "https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianEspinosaOfficial", "https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianespinosa/" ], "jobTitle": "Bestselling Author, Keynote Speaker, Entrepreneur", "worksFor": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Blue Goat Cyber", "url": "https://bluegoatcyber.com/" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/#website", "name": "Christian Espinosa", "url": "https://christianespinosa.com/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en-US" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/#organization", "name": "Christian Espinosa", "url": "https://christianespinosa.com/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://christianespinosa.com/logo.svg" }, "founder": { "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/#person" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.facebook.com/christian.espinosa.official", "https://x.com/Ironracer", "https://www.instagram.com/christian.espinosa.official/", "https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianEspinosaOfficial", "https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianespinosa/" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Acting With Intention: What It Means and How to Make It a Habit - Christian Espinosa", "description": "Discover how shifting your focus from macro goals to \"in-between\" moments can cultivate intentional living, leading to greater joy, peace, and connection.", "image": "https://christianespinosa.com/__l5e/assets-v1/a94ef99b-82e6-4a37-911c-1d15bd1d7835/acting-with-intention-what-it-means-and-how-to-make-it-a-habit-card.png", "datePublished": "2024-08-20T21:46:47+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-06-26T05:31:50.541Z", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/blog/acting-with-intention-what-it-means-and-how-to-make-it-a-habit" }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christian Espinosa", "url": "https://christianespinosa.com/about" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Christian Espinosa", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://christianespinosa.com/logo.svg" } } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the core idea behind \"Acting With Intention: What It Means and How to Make It a Habit - Christian Espinosa\"?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Are we always acting with intention? Sometimes, we are aware of it; other times, it seems like it’s just a reaction. Intention can also be a double-edged" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Who is this post for?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Honestly, anyone who suspects the real life is happening in the ordinary hours, not the milestones. If you want a listicle, this is not that. If you want the honest version of what I have actually lived and worked through, keep reading." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How do I actually apply this, not just nod along?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Pick the single line in the post that made you flinch or look away, and change one thing in your week because of it. One choice this week beats a whole framework you never touch." } } ] } ] --- [Skip to content](#main) [](/) [About](/about)[Speaking](/speaking)[Cybersecurity](/cybersecurity)[Programs](/programs)[Books](/books)[Media](/media) Writing Search Ctrl K[Connect](/connect) [The In-Between](/blog/category/the-in-between) # Acting With Intention: What It Means and How to Make It a Habit August 20, 2024 2 min read 538 words I used to think my intentions were always good. I’d set a goal, focus, and drive for it. Sometimes it worked. Sometimes it blew up in my face. ![](/__l5e/assets-v1/7b5fa62a-4eac-4b4f-9dc9-00e10d6340da/acting-with-intention-what-it-means-and-how-to-make-it-a-habit-hero.webp) The takeaways 1. 01 I’d set a goal, focus, and drive for it. What to do next Name the one place in your life this week where goal is quietly running the show, and write it down before you go to bed tonight. 2. 02 It can be a double-edged sword, this intention. What to do next Choose one small action tied to double-edged you can do in the next 24 hours that your future self would thank you for. 3. 03 It’s something I work on, something I practice to be a better human. What to do next Name the one place in your life this week where something is quietly running the show, and write it down before you go to bed tonight. 4. 04 It’s a major part of my new book, The In-Between: Life in the Micro . I used to think my intentions were always good. I’d set a goal, focus, and drive for it. Sometimes it worked. Sometimes it blew up in my face. It can be a double-edged sword, this intention. It gives me confidence. It lets me use my awareness. But I can also assign intention to a situation that just doesn’t add up. Intention shapes almost every interaction I have. It’s something I work on, something I practice to be a better human. It’s a major part of my new book, _The In-Between: Life in the Micro_. In the book, I talk about my life and how I’ve shifted my intention to the moments in between, not just the big episodes. ## What Does Intention Mean in the In-Between? When I thought about intention, I used to have a very straightforward definition. I’d set a goal and do what I had to do to achieve it. My intention was narrow. It was focused. It was resolute. Those intentions can support success, but they also create an obsession with the macro. Intention in the in-between is different. I had to snap out of a bubble of the macro to get to this place. Two life-and-death experiences nudged me into this new phase. I had time to reflect on regrets and missed opportunities. I realized my life of intention was as strong as a house of cards. It is only related to the macro. Living intentionally in the in-between means I am open to all experiences. I don’t come into them with a negative mindset. I can be more patient and welcoming, and these intentions don’t waver even if circumstances arise that change the moment. In the past, such an incident would have made me frustrated and angry. ## Acting with Intention in the Micro Creates Joy, Peace, and Connection The payoff of acting with intention in the micro is the opportunity for joy, peace, and connection. In my book, I tell the story of an Ironman competition, which had been a macro goal for many years. This time was different. Instead of being consumed by the macro of finishing the race, I embraced the in-between and helped a fellow racer. In that moment of intention, I was living a value that was critical to me, helping others. What I got from the moment was a connection to someone else. It supported my growth and demonstrated how intention was now firmly embedded into the micro. ## Applying Intention to Any Moment Our life is a collection of moments, big and small. If we look at each as a chance to apply intention, it becomes a habit. It’s about setting the tone. If we go into situations with a clear and open mind, we can take much value from them. Practicing intention is similar to being mindful and present. You’ll have to be deliberate about this. Eventually, it will become second nature to look at your day ahead in this way. You can explore more about acting with intention in the in-between by [reading my book](https://www.amazon.com/Between-Life-Micro-Christian-Espinosa/dp/B0CP9WT8J7). Frequently asked ### What is the core idea behind "Acting With Intention: What It Means and How to Make It a Habit - Christian Espinosa"? ### Who is this post for? ### How do I actually apply this, not just nod along? ### Work with me I help founders and cybersecurity leaders build teams that ship, not teams that stall. If that's the problem you're trying to solve, let's talk. [Start a conversation](/contact) Share this essay [X ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Facting-with-intention-what-it-means-and-how-to-make-it-a-habit&text=Acting%20With%20Intention%3A%20What%20It%20Means%20and%20How%20to%20Make%20It%20a%20Habit) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Facting-with-intention-what-it-means-and-how-to-make-it-a-habit) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Facting-with-intention-what-it-means-and-how-to-make-it-a-habit) [Email](mailto:?subject=Acting%20With%20Intention%3A%20What%20It%20Means%20and%20How%20to%20Make%20It%20a%20Habit&body=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Facting-with-intention-what-it-means-and-how-to-make-it-a-habit)Copy link ![Christian Espinosa, headshot](/__l5e/assets-v1/de07e44b-a8e0-4bcc-bcb0-13aec15421f1/headshot-front.jpg) About the author [Christian Espinosa](/about) · Founder & CEO, Blue Goat Cyber Christian is the founder and CEO of Blue Goat Cyber, a medical device cybersecurity firm. He's an Air Force Academy graduate, 24x Ironman, climber of two of the Seven Summits, and the author of The Smartest Person in the Room and The In-Between: Life in the Micro. Keep reading - [ ### Shedding Your Defense Modes - Christian Espinosa Same thread: the in between. Read essay → ](/blog/shedding-your-defense-modes) - [ ### Tulum, Prosecco, and the Sign I Almost Missed | Christian Espinosa Same thread: the in between. Read essay → ](/blog/tulum-prosecco-and-the-sign-i-almost-missed) - [ ### Trying to Do the Right Thing and Getting It All Wrong - Christian Espinosa Same thread: the in between. Read essay → ](/blog/trying-to-do-the-right-thing-and-getting-it-all-wrong) [← Previous essay No One Wants to Feel Alone in Times of Need - Christian Espinosa ](/blog/no-one-wants-to-feel-alone-in-times-of-need)[Next essay → The Smartest Person in the Room Is Usually Wrong | Christian Espinosa ](/blog/the-smartest-person-in-the-room-is-usually-wrong) Related, The In-Between ### Live in the In-Between Christian's philosophy on micro vs. macro, awareness, and intentional living, explored in talks, essays, and his books. [Connect with Christian](/connect) Christian Espinosa Bestselling author, keynote speaker, and Founding CEO of [Blue Goat Cyber](https://bluegoatcyber.com/). Helping technical leaders develop the soft skills that turn brilliance into impact. 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