Gal Zeiger on What Happens When Your Body Knows Before You Do

Aug 28

After years of pushing through effort, Gal Zeiger’s body forced him to stop and listen. The spiritual guide and musician shares what happens when success is no longer enough, why softness can be a form of leadership, and the importance of finding your way back to your inner center.

How do you define "spiritual" and has that definition changed over time?

For me, spirituality is the knowing that you have a center — your inner anchor — the place you always return to and draw inspiration from in every daily action, whether it’s work, relationships, creativity, or leadership.

Was there a breaking point or a moment when the old ways of working stopped being enough? What did that look like for you?

At the beginning of the year I physically broke down. Now I’m sitting at home on sick leave, and I may need to change professions — from pastry chef to something entirely different. I’m walking the musical and creative path. It’s deeply important to listen to our bodies; they tell us things we sometimes don’t want to hear, but absolutely need to.

What's the spiritual practice, ritual, or habit that most directly shows up in how you lead?

Yes. There was a moment when I realized I was operating from effort rather than truth.

The external success was no longer enough, and my body began telling me the truth long before my mind was willing to listen.

Are you open at work about your spiritual life or is this your coming out? What do your colleagues think?

I am very open. Sometimes I feel not everyone understands me but that is ok too.

What would you want a skeptic in a corner office to know about why this way of working is actually a competitive advantage?

Anyone who doubts spirituality has probably not yet understood life deeply enough.

It will always be an advantage for a person to be spiritual, but unfortunately it isn’t always an advantage for large companies when the ‘small employee’ is spiritual — sometimes integrating the two can be challenging.

How does this work ground you in a world of chaos and uncertainty?

When I know that I am truly myself — and that this is what continues with me even beyond this life — it grounds me, gives me inner peace, and lifts worries from my heart.

What has opening up to your spiritual side changed for you in ways you never saw coming?

It opened my heart wider, deepened my relationships, and gave me the ability to lead with softness rather than force.

It also brought back my joy for creation.

How different is the leader you are now from the one you used to be, and what would that earlier version of you think?

I’m very different today. I no longer get shaken by things that don’t align with my energy, and I’ve learned to embrace my uniqueness.

The earlier version of me would probably have tried to fix me or straighten me out, but once we’re grounded and connected to our center — to our higher self — everything else naturally aligns with the energy we radiate.

In a world being rapidly reshaped by AI, why do you think humans need this now more than ever?

Very simply, the human mind has been at risk of being hijacked for many years. I feel that the stage of artificial intelligence can — and might — drive the final nail into the coffin. People are using their own thinking less and becoming more influenced by governments and authorities.

What's one piece of "good advice" about being a Chief Spiritual Officer you want to share with the world?

Don’t give up on yourself in the process. Find what feels good, and strive for constant contact with that goodness.

What's one word you want to leave us all with?

LOVE

Bio

A spiritual guide and musician integrating presence, creativity, and conscious leadership. I help people and organizations reconnect with their inner center and express their highest self in the world.