Gary Zukav is a 4 x New York Times Best Selling Author, including The Seat Of The Soul, and Spiritual Teacher who has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show 36...
Many people use the words “joy” and “happiness” interchangeably, but are they really the same? In this episode, Gary Zukav explores the profound difference between the fleeting highs of happiness—driven by external circumstances—and the deep, unwavering presence of joy. While happiness is tied to the temporary satisfaction of our fears and desires, joy arises from something much deeper: the alignment of our personality with our soul.
At the heart of this conversation is the concept of authentic power—choosing love over fear, even when fear is present. Gary breaks down how happiness is dependent on the external world, fluctuating with life's ups and downs, while joy is an unshakable state of being that emerges when we move beyond fear-based reactions. By recognizing and challenging the frightened parts of our personality, we can cultivate lasting joy rather than chasing momentary happiness.
The key to experiencing true joy is to practice emotional awareness, learning to distinguish between fearful and loving parts of our personality. When we act from love—choosing gratitude, patience, and appreciation—we step into our authentic power and free ourselves from the illusion that external circumstances define our well-being. Joy is our natural state; it is always available when we choose to see beyond fear.
What You’ll Discover in This Episode:
(02:05) — The fundamental difference between happiness and joy
(07:42) — Why happiness is dependent on external circumstances and how it leads to suffering
(12:30) — How joy arises from within and remains unaffected by life’s ups and downs
(17:15) — The role of emotional awareness in recognizing fear-based reactions
(22:04) — How to create authentic power by choosing love over fear
(28:18) — Practical steps to shift from seeking happiness to experiencing joy
Embrace the Soul Step Challenge: Reflect on the moments in your life when you felt happy versus when you felt truly joyful. Was your happiness tied to a specific event, person, or outcome? Did it fade when circumstances changed? Now, recall a moment of joy—one that felt deeply fulfilling and was not dependent on anything external. This week, observe your emotions: Are you chasing happiness, or are you choosing joy? The path to joy begins with recognizing when fear is present and consciously shifting toward love.
Your emotions are messages from your soul. Learn How to Tune In and Listen HERE.
Let’s Connect:
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22:13
What is Evil?
Evil is often thought of as an external force, something separate from us, lurking in the shadows. But in this episode, Gary Zukav offers a transformative perspective—evil is not a presence but an absence. It is the absence of love, of light, of consciousness. As humanity undergoes an unprecedented shift, we are faced with a choice: to continue in fear and darkness or to bring love into our lives and the world around us.
Gary explains that removing evil from the world begins with removing it from within ourselves. Darkness, or fear, manifests in our frightened parts of personality—our anger, judgment, and resentment. The key to transformation is not in suppressing these emotions but in acknowledging and challenging them. By becoming emotionally aware and choosing to act from the healthiest parts of our personalities, we create authentic power and shift the world around us.
The solution to evil is not punishment or eradication but love and awareness. As Russian novelist Alexander Solzhenitsyn observed, the line between good and evil runs through every human heart. By choosing to cultivate love and compassion, even toward those who lack it, we begin to dissolve the darkness—both within ourselves and in the world.
What You’ll Discover in This Episode:
(00:41) — The true nature of evil: an absence, not a presence
(01:25) — Why eliminating darkness starts with transforming yourself
(02:35) — How to challenge fear instead of acting from it
(03:24) — The power of making conscious, healthy choices
(05:05) — Why compassion, even for those who lack it, is an act of courage
Embrace the Soul Step Challenge: Take a moment to reflect on how fear and darkness have shown up in your life. Have you ever found yourself reacting from anger, judgment, or resentment? Instead of pushing these feelings away, try observing them with awareness. Challenge them by choosing love over fear. What happens when you respond from the most conscious, loving part of yourself?
Learn how to align your personality with your soul and create authentic power in your life. The Authentic Power Guidelines course will guide you on this powerful journey. Learn More Here.
Let’s Connect:
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Gary Zukav | Books
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Gary Zukav | X (Twitter)
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5:48
What to Do About Disintegrating Social Structures
Humanity is undergoing an unprecedented shift in consciousness, and as a result, the social structures that have shaped our lives for millennia are beginning to disintegrate. In this episode, Gary explores the origins of these structures—such as education, healthcare, business, and governance—revealing how they emerged from human experience and were built upon external power, control, and survival. Now, as our consciousness evolves beyond the five-sensory perception, these systems no longer serve us in the way they once did.
Many may wonder: What should we do about these failing structures? The old consciousness tells us to rebuild, replace, or reform them—but this is not the solution. Social structures do not change by force; they evolve naturally as human experience shifts. The transformation of these structures is not something we can construct externally but something that emerges from within. Gary invites us to consider a radical and profound approach: instead of trying to fix broken systems, we must focus on changing ourselves.
The answer lies in creating authentic power—choosing love over fear in every moment. The only way to create lasting change in our world is by aligning our personality with our soul, practicing emotional awareness, and responding consciously rather than reacting unconsciously. When we transform our inner world, we contribute to the evolution of our collective reality.
What You’ll Discover in This Episode:
(01:14) — How social structures emerge from human experience
(04:05) — The role of survival in shaping human evolution
(07:24) — Why external power has become toxic in today’s world
(11:30) — The shift from survival-based evolution to spiritual growth
(19:02) — The only way to change social structures: changing yourself
(23:04) — How your daily choices between love and fear shape the world
Embrace the Soul Step Challenge: Reflect on the role social structures have played in your life. Have you felt frustration, helplessness, or anger at their limitations? Instead of seeking external solutions, turn inward. Take note of moments when you act from fear—reacting unconsciously out of anger, jealousy, or control. Then, ask yourself: Can I choose love instead? How does this choice affect my experience and the world around me? The path to true transformation begins within.
Are you ready to live Beyond the Five Senses? Learn how HERE.
Let’s Connect:
Gary Zukav | Website
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Gary Zukav | Books
Gary Zukav | YouTube
Gary Zukav | X (Twitter)
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25:59
Care-giving vs. Care-taking
In this minisode, Gary and Linda explore the profound difference between care-giving and care-taking. Through a heartfelt exchange with a healthcare worker, Linda gently unpacks the emotional dynamics at play when caring for others. She reveals how care-taking—often driven by a need for approval or validation—can mask unresolved pain within us. True care-giving, on the other hand, emerges when we act from love, free of attachment to how others respond.
Many people who dedicate their lives to helping others may unknowingly use care-taking as a way to avoid their own emotional wounds. When the focus is on pleasing others rather than being present with oneself, inner pain remains unaddressed. Linda guides the conversation toward recognizing how this behavior can disconnect us from our integrity and keep us trapped in unconscious patterns.
The key to shifting from care-taking to care-giving is self-awareness. By exploring the frightened parts of our personality and challenging our fear-based emotions, we can offer love without expectation. This shift allows us to care for others in a way that is both authentic and spiritually aligned.
What You’ll Discover in This Episode:
(01:12) – The difference between care-giving and care-taking.
(03:45) – How care-taking is often driven by a fear-based need for validation.
(07:30) – Why ignoring our own emotions keeps us disconnected from true integrity.
(11:05) – How letting go of attachment to others’ reactions fosters genuine love.
(15:40) – Steps to shift from unconscious care-taking to conscious care-giving.
Embrace the Soul Step Challenge: Reflect on moments when you found yourself seeking approval through care-taking. Were you hoping for a particular reaction? Pause and ask yourself—what feelings am I avoiding by focusing on others? Journal your thoughts and consider how you can shift toward offering care from a place of love rather than fear.
Let’s Connect:
Gary Zukav | Website
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Gary Zukav | Books
Gary Zukav | YouTube
Gary Zukav | X
Are you creating with love or fear in your life? Take this self-assessment today to find out.
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5:16
What Can You Control?
In this episode, Gary explores a fundamental question: What can you control? Our perception of control is shaped by whether we operate from the old consciousness—rooted in external power, manipulation, and dominance—or from the emerging multisensory consciousness, which embraces spiritual growth and authentic power. He challenges the traditional notion of control and introduces a transformative approach that aligns with our evolving human experience.
Many people believe control comes from external circumstances—status, wealth, or authority—but Gary explains why this outdated perspective leads to suffering. True power does not come from changing the world around us but from changing ourselves. Through the lens of vertical and horizontal dimensions, he illustrates how our emotions and reactions shape our reality. The key to freedom and fulfillment lies in mastering our choices rather than trying to dominate external circumstances.
The solution is simple yet profound: while we cannot control our emotions, we can control how we respond to them. By developing emotional awareness and choosing to act from love instead of fear, we create positive, lasting consequences. This conscious choice-making is the foundation of creating authentic power and the path to true joy and fulfillment.
What You’ll Discover in This Episode:
(00:41) — The difference between external power and authentic power
(02:43) — Why the old model of control is no longer effective
(03:47) — The horizontal and vertical dimensions of control
(07:04) — Why you can’t control emotions but can control your responses to them
(09:23) — How emotional awareness creates space for conscious choices
(11:30) — The role of intention in shaping your experiences and reality
Embrace the Soul Step Challenge: Take a moment to reflect on how control has played a role in your life. Have you been trying to change external circumstances in order to feel safe? secure? happy? Instead, consider how you can shift your focus inward. Observe your emotions without judgment and practice making conscious choices based on love rather than fear. What happens when you respond with awareness instead of reacting?
Are you practicing judgment or discernment? Learn more as Gary explains the difference in this illuminating video.
Let’s Connect:
Gary Zukav | Website
Gary Zukav | Instagram
Gary Zukav | Facebook
Gary Zukav | Books
Gary Zukav | YouTube
Gary Zukav | X (Twitter)
Gary Zukav is a 4 x New York Times Best Selling Author, including The Seat Of The Soul, and Spiritual Teacher who has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show 36 times.
The Gary Zukav Podcast shares teachings on the new consciousness and tools to live in gratitude, patience, contentment and awe of the Universe to resolve any anger, worry, overwhelm and despair.
This podcast will help you choose joyfully and effectively as you are lead by one of the greatest American Spiritual Teachers in the transformation of Human Consciousness.
New Episodes out weekly, Monday and Friday.
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