--- title: "Informed Intentions Make You Less Vulnerable to…" description: "Discover how informed intentions, concrete and outcome-driven plans, empower you to navigate life's changes, stay present, and achieve desired results." 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": "Informed Intentions Make You Less Vulnerable to Circumstances - Christian Espinosa", "description": "Discover how informed intentions, concrete and outcome-driven plans, empower you to navigate life's changes, stay present, and achieve desired results.", "image": "https://christianespinosa.com/__l5e/assets-v1/4dddae08-af10-4951-abfe-0d4efd6a759c/informed-intentions-make-you-less-vulnerable-to-circumstances-card.png", "datePublished": "2024-06-19T16:02:06+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-06-26T05:35:35.679Z", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://christianespinosa.com/blog/informed-intentions-make-you-less-vulnerable-to-circumstances" }, "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 \"Informed Intentions Make You Less Vulnerable to Circumstances - Christian Espinosa\"?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Intentions are a normal part of the human experience. We may have the best intentions in mind in a situation, but they can quickly spiral out of control" } }, { "@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) # Informed Intentions Make You Less Vulnerable to Circumstances June 19, 2024 2 min read 549 words I have intentions, you have intentions, we all do. We go into a situation with the best of them, but then circumstances change. Suddenly, my perfectly good intentions are spiraling out of control. Typical intentions don't give me any room to adapt. ![](/__l5e/assets-v1/918d81f8-64fd-47a9-8ebb-6f99ce4de938/informed-intentions-make-you-less-vulnerable-to-circumstances-hero.webp) The takeaways 1. 01 Suddenly, my perfectly good intentions are spiraling out of control. What to do next Name the one place in your life this week where control is quietly running the show, and write it down before you go to bed tonight. 2. 02 If I want to take circumstances out of the equation, I have to make informed decisions all the way through my life. 3. 03 Informed intentions are a big part of my book, The In-Between: Life in the Micro . 4. 04 Informed intentions, however, are more concrete, accounting for the information at hand. What to do next Name the one place in your life this week where informed is quietly running the show, and write it down before you go to bed tonight. I have intentions, you have intentions, we all do. We go into a situation with the best of them, but then circumstances change. Suddenly, my perfectly good intentions are spiraling out of control. Typical intentions don't give me any room to adapt. If I want to take circumstances out of the equation, I have to make informed decisions all the way through my life. Informed intentions are a big part of my book, _The In-Between: Life in the Micro_. I wrote it to talk about how I changed. I used to only focus on the big picture, the major goals, the priorities, the big moments. I neglected everything else, what I call the in-between. Let's look at what I mean by informed intentions and how they help me embrace the micro. ## What Are Informed Intentions? An intention is a plan or objective. These are aspirations we expect and desire. They are often abstract in nature. Informed intentions, however, are more concrete, accounting for the information at hand. Setting them revolves around being outcome-driven. Following this mindset means I develop an intention based on what I want from an experience. It also allows me to avoid getting derailed by changing circumstances. When you hone the ability to do this, getting dysregulated because of the environment happens less often. Further, informed intentions help me be present. ## How to Set Informed Intentions Making this shift in expectations requires some internal work. My book offers many examples. Here are a few insights from those stories: - **Concentrate on the outcome.** Guide intentions based on the outcomes you want so circumstances don’t take over. - **Remember that your outer world reflects your inner world.** When you have the right internal intentions, experiences improve. - **Consider that the unexpected is always a possibility.** Life is full of surprises, and we can’t control them all. Managing intentions and keeping them informed requires focusing on your vision rather than the circumstances. - **Expect circumstances to win if you don’t set an intention.** If you approach any scenario without an intention, circumstances will be in the driver’s seat and influence your decisions and responses. - **Align informed intentions with your inner awareness.** This internal truth is your authentic self and gut instinct. They are valuable, and you shouldn’t dismiss them. Your informed intentions should be in step with these. When they aren’t, you will face significant internal turmoil. - **Look to awareness as a foundation for making informed intentions a habit.** Intentions and awareness should work together. Awareness of self and others is crucial to making informed intentions a natural part of your behavior. ## Don’t Let Circumstances Disrupt Intentions Intentions and circumstances intertwine to create experiences. It’s going to be better if intentions are in charge rather than the circumstances. When you begin to do this on a regular basis, you also grow more connected to the in-between. You can appreciate the micro-moments in life at a completely new level. Get more insights and practical advice on these concepts by reading my book. Frequently asked ### What is the core idea behind "Informed Intentions Make You Less Vulnerable to Circumstances - 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%2Finformed-intentions-make-you-less-vulnerable-to-circumstances&text=Informed%20Intentions%20Make%20You%20Less%20Vulnerable%20to%20Circumstances) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Finformed-intentions-make-you-less-vulnerable-to-circumstances) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Finformed-intentions-make-you-less-vulnerable-to-circumstances) [Email](mailto:?subject=Informed%20Intentions%20Make%20You%20Less%20Vulnerable%20to%20Circumstances&body=https%3A%2F%2Fchristianespinosa.com%2Fblog%2Finformed-intentions-make-you-less-vulnerable-to-circumstances)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 - [ ### Trauma Creates a Wall to Micro-Moments - Christian Espinosa Same thread: the in between. Read essay → ](/blog/trauma-creates-a-wall-to-micro-moments) - [ ### Shedding Your Defense Modes - Christian Espinosa Same thread: the in between. Read essay → ](/blog/shedding-your-defense-modes) - [ ### Getting Thoughtful About Intentions - Christian Espinosa Same thread: the in between. Read essay → ](/blog/getting-thoughtful-about-intentions) [← Previous essay Trauma Creates a Wall to Micro-Moments - Christian Espinosa ](/blog/trauma-creates-a-wall-to-micro-moments)[Next essay → Shifting Your Identity to a Serving State - Christian Espinosa ](/blog/shifting-your-identity-to-a-serving-state) 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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