#204. Life Is Happening For You, Not To You: How to Take Back Your Power with Deborah Small

In this thoughtful, uplifting conversation, Desiree Stanley sits down with Deborah Small, internationally recognized author, holistic healing expert, and creator of the Integrative Reprogramming Technique. Deborah shares how the "program" we absorb in our first seven years quietly runs on autopilot for the rest of our lives, and why simply becoming aware of it is the first taste of real freedom. At the heart of the conversation is a beautifully simple truth: you can only ever choose in the present moment. Not the past, not the future, only now. And that single shift in the now has the power to reshape both. Deborah shares how reframing a moment she once saw as the worst thing that ever happened, becoming a mother at 19, transformed it into one of the best, because it slowed her down and set her on the path to finding herself. Same event, new perspective, entirely different life. Deborah also speaks candidly about radical responsibility as the doorway to freedom. Drawing on growing up under apartheid in South Africa, she explains how she decided early that no one else got to assign her value, and because she did not accept it, it could not touch her the same way. Her teaching is both gentle and bold: others can hand you something, but you always get to choose whether to open it. When you take full responsibility for yourself, you stop waiting for anyone else to make you feel safe, worthy, or whole. Perhaps the most freeing message of all is this: you are worthy simply because you are here. Deborah opens up about releasing the exhausting, lifelong drive to prove herself through achievement, and discovering that her worth was never tied to any of it. If you have been waiting to feel like you have finally earned your place, this conversation is a warm reminder that you never had to. Bio: Deborah Small, a naturalized Canadian citizen born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, embarked on a personal journey over twenty years ago to discover who she really was and find her true purpose. That journey to self-empowerment began with yoga and grew into helping others heal, spanning five continents and over twenty years of practice across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas. Today, Deborah is an internationally acknowledged author and renowned expert practitioner in holistic healing. She holds qualifications as an Integrative Reprogramming Technique ('IRT') facilitator, Yoga Instructor, Nutritionist, and instructor of advanced breathing techniques for self-healing. She is also an experienced guide and facilitator of programs, workshops, and retreats, and holds a degree in psychology from the University of British Columbia. Connect with Deborah:Email: [email protected] Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube Books mentioned: The Self-Repair Toolkit by Deborah Small – Bookshop | Amazon The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer – Bookshop | Amazon The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle – Bookshop | Amazon Podcasts mentioned: Deb Talks | Purpose and Wisdom with Sara Landon | Abraham Hicks ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review and share it with a friend. The more we educate, inspire, and empower each other, the further this conversation goes. Questions or just want to say hi? Find me at PocketsofKnowledge.com or on Instagram @desireedstanley. Thanks for listening! This podcast is intended to educate, inspire, and empower you on your personal journey. Guests may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services mentioned. Nothing here is medical advice. Please consult a qualified health professional for any medical concerns.