--- title: "Fixation on Yourself Is a Bubble State" description: "Break free from self-fixation and discover how to cultivate awareness and empathy, empowering you to live a more connected, growth-filled, and authentic life." 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": "Fixation on Yourself Is a Bubble State - Christian Espinosa", "description": "Break free from self-fixation and discover how to cultivate awareness and empathy, empowering you to live a more connected, growth-filled, and authentic life.", "image": "https://christianespinosa.com/__l5e/assets-v1/8ee23618-db2d-40c2-be2b-1ebb3c55c2e3/fixation-on-yourself-is-a-bubble-state-card.png", "datePublished": "2024-04-22T22:28:40+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-06-26T05:34:10.159Z", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/blog/fixation-on-yourself-is-a-bubble-state" }, "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 \"Fixation on Yourself Is a Bubble State - Christian Espinosa\"?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "It’s easy to fixate on your own needs, problems, and desires. While sometimes this is necessary, much of the time, it causes more harm than good. Fixation" } }, { "@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) # Fixation on Yourself Is a Bubble State April 22, 2024 3 min read 552 words It's easy to fixate on my own needs, my problems, my desires. While sometimes this is necessary, much of the time, it causes more harm than good. Fixation on myself locks me into a bubble state. ![](/__l5e/assets-v1/f56a7469-b7f3-4492-bd1d-8730d18ab3a0/fixation-on-yourself-is-a-bubble-state-hero.webp) The takeaways 1. 01 While sometimes this is necessary, much of the time, it causes more harm than good. What to do next Choose one small action tied to sometimes you can do in the next 24 hours that your future self would thank you for. 2. 02 Fixation on myself locks me into a bubble state. What to do next Name the one place in your life this week where fixation is quietly running the show, and write it down before you go to bed tonight. 3. 03 This mindset causes me to focus too much on the macro aspects of life. 4. 04 Leaving the comfort of a bubble state is no easy task. Fixation on Myself is a Bubble State It's easy to fixate on my own needs, my problems, my desires. While sometimes this is necessary, much of the time, it causes more harm than good. Fixation on myself locks me into a bubble state. This mindset causes me to focus too much on the macro aspects of life. I become narrow-minded at the expense of the micro. Leaving the comfort of a bubble state is no easy task. It's a path I captured in my book _[The In-Between: Life in the Micro](https://www.amazon.com/Between-Life-Micro-Christian-Espinosa/dp/B0CP9WT8J7)_. ## What Are Bubble States? Bubble states are identities that concentrate solely on the macro. They form a “bubble” around us that makes the micro seem insignificant. We become fixated and create a belief system that keeps us from engaging in the micro. While in the bubble state, we overthink and get stuck inside our own heads. ## Why Are Bubble States Bad for Us? Staying in a state that you know may seem like a safe thing. We know the course and have the answers. Unfortunately, that’s not “real” living. In a bubble state, you don’t pay attention to input or feedback. The fixation is only about what you want and think, with no room to change. It’s a harmful way to move through life. You can miss out on a lot of joy and connections. When you realize the bubble state is holding you back, you have the chance to divert into a new path. ## Moving from Fixation on the Self to Becoming More Aware and Empathetic Awareness is a key component in opening yourself up to the in-between. You must become more self-aware and aware of others. It requires reflection, listening to your gut, and discomfort. However, the reward is having the skills and desire to be more present and engaged. From this new awareness comes greater empathy as well. We can’t truly connect to the micro without empathy. Being more empathetic also allows me to be more patient with others, something I certainly didn’t do when I fixated on the macro. Empathy and patience are the opposites of resentment. Getting to such a place supports emotional growth. Putting this into practice has enabled me to embrace the in-between, and it’s a refreshing change of pace. ## Saying Goodbye to the Bubble State To leave the bubble state behind, you’ll face many obstacles and challenges. In addition to practicing awareness and empathy, you need to commit to being authentic. It helps you tune into the micro-moments, and you can more readily accept feedback and live with more intention. You’ll need to be introspective, which means being vulnerable, and that’s always going to be a little scary. You have to challenge long-held beliefs and values to uncover whether or not they are limiting you. This evolution is ongoing. We’ll never be perfect at it, but the more connected we are to our feelings and those of others, the freer we can be. If you’d like to move on from the bubble state, start by reading my book. Kindle![](https://fls-na.amazon.com/1/batch/1/OP/ATVPDKIKX0DER:141-0041652-2685848:ZH5M0QRBG1BWAP584BJ1$uedata=s:%2Fuedata%2Fuedata%3Fstaticb%26id%3DZH5M0QRBG1BWAP584BJ1:0) ![Book cover](/__l5e/assets-v1/123e3cbe-6e4d-4e21-83a8-66ff111f0489/0bcd489cbc3d.jpg) Get bookRead sample Frequently asked ### What is the core idea behind "Fixation on Yourself Is a Bubble State - 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%2Ffixation-on-yourself-is-a-bubble-state&text=Fixation%20on%20Yourself%20Is%20a%20Bubble%20State) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Ffixation-on-yourself-is-a-bubble-state) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Ffixation-on-yourself-is-a-bubble-state) [Email](mailto:?subject=Fixation%20on%20Yourself%20Is%20a%20Bubble%20State&body=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Ffixation-on-yourself-is-a-bubble-state)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 - [ ### How to Be Good at Being Present - Christian Espinosa Same thread: the in between. Read essay → ](/blog/how-to-be-good-at-being-present) - [ ### Chase Your Dreams by Living in the In-Between - Christian Espinosa Same thread: the in between. Read essay → ](/blog/chase-your-dreams-by-living-in-the-in-between) - [ ### Shifting Your Identity to a Serving State - Christian Espinosa Same thread: the in between. Read essay → ](/blog/shifting-your-identity-to-a-serving-state) [← Previous essay How to Be Good at Being Present - Christian Espinosa ](/blog/how-to-be-good-at-being-present)[Next essay → Focusing on the Macro at the Expense of the Moment - Christian Espinosa ](/blog/focusing-on-the-macro-at-the-expense-of-the-moment) 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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