--- title: "Getting Thoughtful About Intentions" description: "Discover how to cultivate thoughtful intentions that adapt to circumstances, align with your values, and lead to more authentic, fulfilling life experiences." 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": "Getting Thoughtful About Intentions - Christian Espinosa", "description": "Discover how to cultivate thoughtful intentions that adapt to circumstances, align with your values, and lead to more authentic, fulfilling life experiences.", "image": "https://christianespinosa.com/__l5e/assets-v1/0a7114a4-7442-4c04-becb-ad2e46a85dde/getting-thoughtful-about-intentions-card.png", "datePublished": "2024-07-18T03:19:37+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-06-26T05:34:27.727Z", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/blog/getting-thoughtful-about-intentions" }, "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 \"Getting Thoughtful About Intentions - Christian Espinosa\"?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Intention is an action. It’s how we define what we expect from ourselves in a situation. It involves how we want to feel or what we want to achieve." } }, { "@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) # Getting Thoughtful About Intentions July 18, 2024 3 min read 561 words I used to define intention by what I expected from myself in a situation. It was about how I wanted to feel or what I wanted to achieve. I thought intentions were a proactive approach to different moments in life, big or small. ![](/__l5e/assets-v1/e5529b71-761f-4e11-ab4c-3ff2ff42fbc8/getting-thoughtful-about-intentions-hero.webp) The takeaways 1. 01 It was about how I wanted to feel or what I wanted to achieve. 2. 02 Most of the time, the intentions I set are too rigid, controlled more by circumstances than gut feelings. What to do next Pick one conversation you have been putting off where controlled is the real subject, and have it before the week ends. 3. 03 This concept is central to my book, The In-Between: Life in the Micro . 4. 04 They include the information at hand and support what you hope to achieve. I used to define intention by what I expected from myself in a situation. It was about how I wanted to feel or what I wanted to achieve. I thought intentions were a proactive approach to different moments in life, big or small. But they don't always guide me in the right direction. My intentions often lack feedback, and they don't have all the facts. Most of the time, the intentions I set are too rigid, controlled more by circumstances than gut feelings. What if my intentions were more thoughtful and informed? This concept is central to my book, [_The In-Between: Life in the Micro_](https://www.amazon.com/Between-Life-Micro-Christian-Espinosa/dp/B0CP9WT8J7). Here's why this matters so much. ## What Are Thoughtful Intentions? Intentions are aspirational. We set a goal in our minds as we encounter new experiences. There’s no specific outline to these intentions or the ability to evolve them as we move forward. Thoughtful intentions are the next level. They include the information at hand and support what you hope to achieve. They account for circumstances while not allowing them to take control. ## Why Do Thoughtful Intentions Matter? Evolving from standard intentions to those that are more thoughtful requires being outcome-focused. They deliver a way to be present in the micro-moments in life. These are where real living and authentic interactions occur. It’s a way to prohibit circumstances from ruining the intention you set. We can’t factor these out, as circumstances will always arise. They’ll force you to pivot, but there’s less discomfort if you’re flexible and agile. I’ve always respected thoughtful intentions, but I didn’t always practice them. Today, I’m still trying my best to live this way. It’s something you have to work on through reflection and awareness. ## How to Make Your Intentions More Thoughtful In my book, I talk about some changes you can make to be more intentional, including: - Think about the ideal outcome as your intention and what you need to keep this. With this mindset, circumstances have less power to overtake intentions. - Remember that the outer world reflects the inner world. If you work to improve your intentions, experiences will as well because you’ve developed a greater awareness of yourself and others. - Accept that the unexpected is always a probability and prepare accordingly. Remaining focused on vision versus the circumstances enables you to hold your intention. - Understand that failing to set an intention means circumstances will always win. If you go into situations with no guide on expectation, the circumstances will create these. It doesn’t matter how familiar the scenario is; you must do this. If you don’t, you can’t complain after the fact. - Align thoughtful intentions with your inner knowledge and core values. The inner self is the authentic self, and the intentions you form need to be true to this. If they are not, you’ll have significant inner turmoil. Not every thoughtful intention will be easy to set and hold. Having this mindfulness does put you in a good position to be thoughtful consistently. You can find more insights and examples of thoughtful intentions by reading my book. Frequently asked ### What is the core idea behind "Getting Thoughtful About Intentions - 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%2Fgetting-thoughtful-about-intentions&text=Getting%20Thoughtful%20About%20Intentions) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Fgetting-thoughtful-about-intentions) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Fgetting-thoughtful-about-intentions) [Email](mailto:?subject=Getting%20Thoughtful%20About%20Intentions&body=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Fgetting-thoughtful-about-intentions)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 - [ ### Informed Intentions Make You Less Vulnerable to Circumstances - Christian Espinosa Same thread: the in between. Read essay → ](/blog/informed-intentions-make-you-less-vulnerable-to-circumstances) - [ ### Putting a Goal of Awareness into Action - Christian Espinosa Same thread: the in between. Read essay → ](/blog/putting-a-goal-of-awareness-into-action) - [ ### How Emotional States Can Slow Down and Speed Up Time - Christian Espinosa Same thread: the in between. Read essay → ](/blog/how-emotional-states-can-slow-down-and-speed-up-time) [← Previous essay Openness to Input and Feedback Drives Self-Correction - Christian Espinosa ](/blog/openness-to-input-and-feedback-drives-self-correction)[Next essay → Shedding Your Defense Modes - Christian Espinosa ](/blog/shedding-your-defense-modes) 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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