Setting Informed Intentions Lets Us Not Be Controlled by Circumstances

Intention is the process of defining what you want to feel or achieve in a situation. We typically form these well before the actual moments without much incorporation of feedback. Intentions without information are rigid and leave us unsatisfied. However, setting informed intentions allows us not to be controlled by circumstances.

Informed intentions are a concept from my book The In-Between. Here’s a quick introduction to this process.

What Are Informed Intentions?

Intentions are aspirations, plans, or objectives we have in mind as we walk into a new experience. They often don’t have a defined outcome. Informed intentions are more so, and they account for the information at hand from past interactions, past similar circumstances, what we know about a person, etc. They help you clearly define an internal map in support of what you hope to achieve.

Why Should You Set Informed Intentions?

The key driver in transitioning from intentions to informed intentions is that the latter is outcome-focused. With this approach, you have some control over the circumstances. As a result, they offer support and guidance to be present in the micro-moments, which are the things that occur on the journey.

Circumstances will always be part of any situation. You can’t control whether they do or not. What’s in your purview is how you respond to these. Informed intentions have long been part of my philosophy as a means to leave chaos and unsafe situations. Today, I’m still trying to improve this process and set informed intentions for every micro-moment in my work and relationships.

Setting Informed Intentions Tips

Here’s a sneak peek at five of the learnings from my book on setting informed intentions.

1. Think about the outcome.

As you set intentions, you should consider the outcome you desire for them to be informed. Doing so means circumstances will have less of an impact.

2. Your outer world reflects your inner world.

By working on improving your internal intentions, your experiences are more likely to improve. Working on your awareness of self and others is a good technique to live this mantra.

3. Unexpected circumstances will always occur.

You can “intend” your way out of uncontrollable circumstances. What’s key to managing them is focusing on your vision versus the circumstance.

4. Failure to set an intention enables circumstances to win.

Walking into any situation without an intention usually means circumstances will guide your decisions and responses. Even if the scenario is one you’ve been in many times, set that informed intention and act on it.

5. Informed intentions should align with your inner knowing.

Your inner knowing is your authentic self and gut instinct. Informed intentions should be in alignment with these. If they aren’t, there will be significant internal friction, which skews you into an unauthentic direction with a ton of uneasiness to swallow.

Get Insights on Setting Informed Intentions

For more tips and stories about informed intentions and circumstances, read my book, "The In-Between: Life in the Micro": https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP9WT8J7.