When throwing ourselves full-time into career research or job search (or work!), who can hear the voice of the heart; the small still voice within? In this busy-mode, so applauded by our society, we are driven by the busy-mind and thrown further from our hearts.

The busy-mind is a wonderful tool to help us gather information, list our pros and cons, prioritize our work but it offers near zero life guidance. After gathering the facts or doing the leg-work, I have found great value in pausing and waiting rather than trying to force a decision or an action. Try it.

Often, what we need to know is then revealed to us. Also, by pausing, relaxing, listening and trusting we are aligning ourselves moment by moment with our God. How do we distinguish between the voice of our God and that of the busy-mind pushing us along - often driven by the underlying insecurity of being human?

As Robert Johnson, Jungian analyst and author of “Balancing Heaven and Earth,” says; “How do we know if we are truly following the will of God? One knows instinctively; there is a sense of peace, balance, and fullness, an unhurriedness.”

From my own experience I would add there is a clean, direct simplicity to my small, still voice. Also, if there is any unkindness, harshness, or hurtfulness in the voice directing me I surely know this is NOT the voice of my God.

Robert Johnson summarizes the career and job search process succinctly saying, “I believe that finding work that is meaningful and fulfilling is not an intellectual task but rather an emotional, intuitive, and cognitive process that involves the whole person.”

We are also looking for the slender threads weaving our lives. What are the slender threads?

“Being in a particular place at just the right time, meeting someone who steers you in an unforeseen direction,the unexpected appearance of work or money or inspiration just when they are most needed. Whether called fate, destiny or the hand of God, slender threads are at work…weaving the remarkable tapestry of our lives.” Robert A. Johnson, Balancing Heaven and Earth.

Viewing my own life I see how those slender threads - chance meetings - patterned decades of my life. I see how some of my best career choices came about through some great benevolent force guiding me, connecting me to necessary people and experiences, more so than my well-made plans or goals.

All I did was get the information I could, put myself out there and then follow the little steps revealed to me. If you are in job search or looking for career direction put yourself “out there” and be open to possibilities. For instance, go and participate in free local employment programs. You may be amazed at the slender threads that will appear.

Tell everyone you meet you are in career change, soul searching, job search…find your own words. In a sentence or two let them know what you enjoy doing, what your skills are, what interests you, or where you would like to work. Ask if they can think of a job title that might suit someone like you, or where you might apply for work, or who else could they suggest for you talk to.

People love to help. If you take little steps and open yourself up, the slender threads will appear.

Always, remember to return to your breathing, to yourself and to your God. Pause. Relax. Breathe. Listen. And Trust. Follow your heart and watch for the slender threads.

Most of my life the slender threads have led me into self employment, a choice appealing to many people today...read on.

A Few more Articles with Heart

Valerie Young, author and professional speaker, has some excellent thoughts on career and job search from the heart.

Lead With Your Heart - Not Your Head

If you've ever experienced the exhilaration that comes with a bolt of inspiration - especially when that inspiration involves a long-held dream - you know that it hits you right in the heart. A big reason why most people never give their dreams even half a chance is that their dream quickly makes its way from their heart to their head. And soon as "logic" kicks in (and ultimately takes over) most dreams don't stand a fighting chance.

If you tend to talk yourself out of your dreams, you may want to take a page out of author Barbara Sher's book. No, not one of her best-selling books. Although Barbara is the best-selling author of some of my all time "find your passion" books including:

~ Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Want ~ I Could Do Anything: If I Only Knew What It Was ~ Live The Life You Love, and ~ It's Only Too Late If You Don't Start Now: How to Create Your Second Life After Forty

The page I am suggesting you copy comes directly from Barbara's own life. A few times a year Barbara travels to a small village in Turkey to "hide out" from her New York telephone and work on her books. In getting to know the local villagers she discovered that the older women had given up weaving the traditional kilims (colorful flat-weave carpets). The reason they put away their looms was that they felt ripped off by the rug dealers who came from the big cities to buy their kilims for their shops.

Their refusal to weave kilims bothered her for two reasons. "First," she says, "I hate to see ancient arts lost. Second, I hate to see women unable to send their kids to good schools because they lack money. (Been there, done that)." So, Barbara decided to teach them e-commerce. By selling their crafts over the Internet the women could sell directly to the buyer and keep the money themselves!

Barbara's father used to tell her she had "more guts than brains." Which is why, she explains, she wasn't the least bit phased by the fact that she was not an e-commerce expert and had no idea where to get the funding to launch such a project. What she DID have was "wild enthusiasm." And, this is what she used to propel her dream. Barbara admits, "...there were experiences that were demoralizing and almost stopped me." But she didn't give up. In the end, she was able to find people willing to help her get her project off the ground.

About a year ago her dream became a reality. Barbara opened the doors to the first-ever Kilim e-Commerce School for Village Women. Now anyone can go to the web site at http://www.kilimwomen.com and order their own custom-made kilim (you select the colors), meet the weaver who creates it, and actually watch the weavers at work.

I had been a fan of Barbara's books for many years. But my first real connection with her occurred about seven years ago when I was first "wildly enthused" about my own project - leaving my corporate job to launch the Changing Course Newsletter . I tracked down Barbara's phone number through her publisher. I was a bit startled when I reached her answering machine. I remember thinking, "Come on Valerie; she's a successful author. She doesn't have time to answer her own phone."

I went ahead and nervously stumbled through my message: "I'm trying to start a newsletter for people who want to find their life mission and live it. I know you're really busy, but I am a big fan of your writing and wondered if you would be willing to contribute?" My message went unanswered.

Fast forward about five weeks later. I was standing in my kitchen on a gray, rainy Sunday terribly discouraged and very nearly close to tears. It was one of those days when my head was giving my heart a good talking to: "What a dumb idea." "It will never work." "Who would want your newsletter anyway?"

Suddenly the phone rang. In no mood to talk, I let the answering machine pick up. I heard a cheery voice apologizing for the long delay in responding. It was Barbara Sher. She'd been traveling the country on a book tour and was just getting caught up. Of course, she'd be thrilled to contribute to my newsletter. I nearly broke a leg lunging for the phone!

This experience taught me two things. First, sometimes we need to lead with our heart's desire because our "logical, practical" self doesn't always know what it's talking about. Second, dreams are almost always a group effort. You may be the head coach and the only player on the field but there are always people out there who are willing, if not to be on your team, to at least be cheering you on from the sidelines. So, if you need some help jump-starting your dream, ask for it. You may not always get what you want, but as the Rolling Stones reminded my generation, "If you try sometime, you just might find that you get what you need."

I once again feel honored by Barbara's generosity. Those of you who have caught one of Barbara's appearances on your local PBS television station know that she has an audio program called "Dare to Live Your Dreams." The stations use it during their pledge times as one of the premiums they give to donors.

Barbara has generously allowed me to offer Changing Course readers this same life changing program. This 12-tape series will teach you practical, nuts-and-bolts, step-by-step methods to use your gifts and turn your dreams into reality. When you do what you love, work turns into pleasure. There is something you're supposed to be doing and you shouldn't waste another day ignoring it. The rewards are enormous.

"My advice to anyone with a dream," says Barbara, "is to take action. Set a goal, any goal, and start doing everything you can to achieve it. I guarantee you life will change." To learn more about the "Live Your Dream" audio program visit Valeria at her site listed in her author bio below, or visit Barbara Sher's site @ Barbarasher.com.

About the Author “Off the beaten career path” consultant, Valerie Young, abandoned her corporate cubicle to become the Dreamer in Residence at ChangingCourse.com offering free resources to help you discover your life mission and live it. Her career change tips have been cited The Wall Street Journal, USA Today Weekend, Redbook, Entrepreneur’s Business Start Ups, and on-line at MSN, CareerBuilder, and iVillage.com. An expert on the Impostor Syndrome, she’s presented her How to Feel as Bright and Capable as Everyone Seems to Think You Are program to thousands of people.

From Motivation to Motive-Action by Denis Waitley

With the passing of every new year, each of us needs to understand the magnitude of social and economic change in the world.

In the past, change in business and social life was incremental and a set of personal strategies for achieving excellence was not required. Today, in the knowledge-based world, where change is the rule, a set of personal strategies is essential for success, even survival.

Never again will you be able to go to your place of business on autopilot, comfortable and secure that the organization, state or government will provide for and look after you.

You must look in the mirror when you ask who is responsible for your success or failure. You must become a lifelong learner and leader, for to be a follower is to fall hopelessly behind the pace of progress.

The power brokers in the new global arena will be the knowledge facilitators. Ignorance will be even more the tyrant and enslaver than in the past. As you look in the mirror to see the 21st Century you, there will also be another image standing beside you. It is your competition.

Your competition, from now on, will be a hungry immigrant with a wireless, hand-held, digital assistant. Hungry for food, hungry for a home, for a new car, for security, for a college education. Hungry for knowledge. Smart, quick thinking, skilled and willing to do anything necessary to be competitive in the world marketplace.

Working long hours and Saturdays, staying open later, serving customers better and more cheerfully. To be a player in the 21st Century you have to be willing to give more in service than you receive in payment.

These are the new rules in the game of life. These are the actions you must take to be a leader and a winner in your personal and professional life. By mastering these profoundly simple action steps, you will be positioned to be a change master in the new century.

Action Step Number One - Consider Yourself Self-Employed, But Be a Team Player.

What this means is that you are your own Chief Executive Officer of your future. Start thinking of yourself as a service company with a single employee.

You're a small company that puts your services to work for a larger company. Tomorrow you may sell those services to a different organization, but that doesn't mean you're any less loyal to your current employer. Taking responsibility for yourself in this way does mean that you never equate your personal long-term interests with your employer's.

The first idea is resolving not to suffer the fate of those who lost their jobs and found their skills were obsolete. The second is to begin immediately the process of protecting yourself against that possibility – by becoming proactive instead of reactive.

Ask yourself these questions:

How vulnerable am I? What trends must I watch? What information must I gain? What knowledge do I lack?

Again, think of yourself as a company. Set up a training department in your mind and make certain your top employee is updating his or her skills. Make sure you have your own private pension plan, knowing that you are responsible for your own financial security.

Entrusting the government or an employer, other than yourself, with your retirement income is like hiring a compulsive gambler as your accountant.

You're the CEO of your daily life who must have the vision to set your goals and allocate your resources. The mindset of being responsible for your own future used to be crucial only to the self-employed, but it has become essential for us all.

Today's typical employees are no longer one-career people. Most will have five separate careers in their lifetimes. Remember, your competition is a hungry immigrant with a laptop. Action Step Number One is to consider yourself to be self-employed, but be a team player.

Action Step Number Two - Be Flexible in the Face of Daily Surprises.

We live in a time-starved, overstressed, violent society. Much of our over-reaction to what happens to us every day is a result of our self-indulgent value system, where we blame others for our problems, look to organizations or the government for our solutions, thirst for immediate sensual gratification and believe we should have privileges without responsibilities.

This condition is manifested in the high crime rate and in the increase in violence in the work place where employees blame their managers for threatening their security.

I have learned how to be flexible in the face of daily surprises, which is one of the most important action traits for a leader. I really haven't been angry for about 17 years. During that time, no one has tried to physically harm me or someone close to me.

I've learned to adapt to stress in life and reserve my fear or anger for imminently physically dangerous situations. I rarely, if ever, get upset with what people say, do or don't do, even if it inconveniences me. I do react emotionally when I see someone physically or emotionally abusing or victimizing another. But I've learned not to sweat the small stuff.

The Serenity Prayer, "God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the Courage to change the things I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference," is a valuable measuring tool we can apply to our lives. Simple yet profound words to live by.

-- Denis Waitley

Reproduced with permission from Denis Waitley's Weekly Ezine. To subscribe to Denis Waitley's Weekly Ezine, go to www.deniswaitley.com or send an email with Join in the subject to subscribe@deniswaitley.com Copyright © 2006 Denis Waitley International. All rights reserved worldwide.