Awareness and Intentions Form a Loop: Why They’re So Interconnected

Awareness and intention are two very interconnected concepts. I describe them as forming a loop. Sometimes, awareness comes from setting an intention. Other times, we set new intentions based on achieving a new level of awareness.

Within this loop, there’s a lot of internal learning. It’s all valuable as we navigate our way through modern life. Having this mindset can open you up to being able to balance the micro and macro moments.

What Is Awareness?

Awareness can mean many things. In this connotation, my awareness became the importance of accepting and living in the micro while still focusing on the macro. Awareness has to be a goal. It’s based on reflection and understanding behavior patterns. It’s a concept I’ve written and spoken a lot about in my career in cybersecurity.

This new idea of awareness is much bigger than using it to improve communication and people skills, although it is still very important. How I see it today is that awareness is a beautiful thing to have within yourself and for others.

I witnessed the awareness of others in many situations in life, and many times, that meant so much to me. I looked back on those experiences, and they motivated me to find a path to awareness.

What Is Intention?

Intention is also a common word that we use to describe things. It often has a negative connotation—“That wasn’t my intention,” or “What are your intentions?”?However, it shouldn’t have such a tainted past. Instead, intention, in my philosophy, is about defining what you want to feel or achieve in a specific situation. We often set this way beforehand, which can be a good or bad thing.

Holding intention is the concept of staying focused on what you believe is the best approach. It can be internal, meaning you intend to be open-minded in a new environment. It can also be external, such as an intention to help someone.

Intentions often align with our identities; we don’t want to change them because we’re so set on who we are. Yet, everybody should welcome opportunities to grow and evolve.

Awareness and Intention: How They Work Together

In the loop referenced above, either principle can be the beginning or outcome. Here’s an example of each.

Intention leads to awareness.

Applying intention in micro-moments results in a new awareness. For example, we can shift attention to the micro, which becomes the intention. If you genuinely take the time to experience these moments, it begets awareness about your identity. For me, this meant accepting there is much I can’t control and breaking patterns of being so macro-focused.

Awareness drives intention.

One of these moments came to me while participating in Ironman Lake Tahoe. It was considered one of the hardest on the circuit. I was struggling when I came across a woman in the same position. We began talking, but I didn’t follow my usual tendency to keep moving to end the conversation. I had an awareness epiphany of this micro-moment meaning something. That awareness led to my intent to help her, and we stayed together on the path.

What Can You Do to Create the Feedback Loop?

Informed intention is another concept to consider for the feedback loop to play out. Informed intention accounts for the information at hand first. Setting these within yourself makes you less likely to get caught up in circumstances. It also broadens your awareness. With this mindset, any area of life can improve. It can become a habit that will propel your growth as a leader and a human.

In an ideal world, awareness and intention look linear. You begin the day with an intention and continue to lean into it as the events play out. Reality is much more difficult. Setting intentions and sustaining them are not easy accomplishments. Primarily because we’re not living in a Groundhog Day scenario. Every day’s challenges and opportunities are unique.

Life comes at you fast, and we’re constantly surprised and unprepared. However, we lose sight of intention and awareness if we give in to circumstance. Arriving at this spot breeds resentment, contempt, and frustration.

However, the opposite can be true if you practice intention and awareness during any experience. You can feel accomplished, proud, and hopeful. Be intentional about these philosophies, and don’t be afraid to mess it all up. That’s part of life and learning.

Intention does change with feedback. Deciding on intentions and developing a plan before the situation connects to greater awareness. If this becomes your process, you’ll arrive at a place of inner peace and be ready to achieve your micro and macro goals.