Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Deyna Libiran. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Deyna, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

I offer programs focused on maximizing human potential and performance. With that being said, the acupuncture is there to make sure people don’t forget to take themselves along for the ride.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

It took me a fair bit of time and experience in this field to answer why I became an acupuncturist. My first career was as a sommelier and wine director in the restaurant industry, and people often ask how in the world I decided on such a different career path. After about six years of being licensed and in practice, I recognize that I became an acupuncturist because I just wanted to make things better. For others, and for myself.

The services and programs that I offer focus on the alchemical aspect of this practice. In essence, it’s about transforming something of a lower quality into something of a higher quality. Or, we can think of it as “transforming your sh*t into gold.” This is what the ancient Chinese Alchemists did. External alchemy was the attempt to turn lead into a higher metal such as gold. And Internal Alchemy was about transforming low energy into higher levels of energy through breath, movement, and mindset.

So, with this approach, my aim isn’t to make pain or ailments magically disappear. In fact, my aim isn’t to “heal” people. Instead, my mission is to help people realize their untapped power and potential in order to transform their lives into something uniquely purposeful and fulfilling. And to remind them that they already have what they need to empower themselves. This is the amazing thing about how a good acupuncture treatment can quiet all of that external noise. In this space, people can return to themselves, and they’re reminded that they are actually okay. For those new to acupuncture, I like to say that it’s like a guaranteed hour of deep meditation to completely let go of external noise and pressure.

Right now, I offer two programs in my practice. The first is called the Purpose Generator, which combines audio brainwave technology and performance coaching with acupuncture. It’s geared toward balancing the excessive busy-ness and outside noise that so many of us are faced with in our fast-paced and tech-driven society. The goal is simply to bring people back to themselves so that they can reflect on what it is that they actually need to get back on their own path. I think so many people are burned out and in pain because we are doing things and accomplishing things according to someone else’s rules and value system. It’s exhausting when we aren’t being true to ourselves. The Purpose Generator is a two-part program that aims to revamp a sense of inner purpose and promote sustainable energy.

The second program is the 21-Day Revival which is a multi-tiered service encompassing 3-weeks of optimal nourishment and acupuncture. The eating plan encouraged in this program follows an Ancestral and Eastern Nutrition template. Similar to a low-inflammatory eating plan. This program is great for those who are looking to increase energy and boost their mood. I am also building an online community for both the group and individual plans so that people can connect with and inspire one another.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Over the last year, I’ve really transformed my business and the way I practice. In my first half decade as an acupuncturist, I really wanted to fix people. I wanted to heal all of the ailments for everyone. However, that approach didn’t actually make things better for people aside from symptom relief here and there. I wasn’t actually empowering my clients to take control of their health and wellbeing because I was so focused on fixing them and being their “healer.” It was more of an ego thing, I think. For anyone in this field, there isn’t anything more ego-boosting than seeing someone go from a 7/10 pain level to a zero as soon as they get off of the table after a treatment. And conversely, when someone is at a 7/10 pain that doesn’t change or keeps coming back after treatment – you can see how that can be quite discouraging to the ego.

When I finally evolved this mindset into being a facilitator of one’s health and wellness, as opposed to being someone’s healer, things started to fall in place. Not that being a healer is bad, it’s just not what I am here to contribute to this field. Having this realization motivated me to completely renovate the inner workings of my business and mission statement, focusing instead on what people are capable of, rather than what their limitations are. Making this pivot inspired me to stay in this career, and continues to motivate me on a daily basis. My ultimate dream in life was to wake up excited every morning to contribute to this world. I feel like I am doing just that.

Simply put, my approach with those I serve is now, “Hey, I see you. You’re completely whole, and exactly where you need to be. Now let’s fly, and see what’s possible!”

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I think the reason I am so focused on facilitating real self-empowerment and self-reliance in my work is because of my own health and personal development journey. When I was younger, I struggled a lot with social anxiety, and I always thought that there was something wrong with me. This led me down a rough path of substance abuse, because I believed so strongly that something outside of myself would save me. And that if I took enough substances, or drank enough wine, it would make me the person that I thought I needed to be in order to be successful. Obviously we all know that this never works out, and I definitely learned the hard way. When I got sober, I started chasing “natural” supplements and various treatment modalities to make me the person that I thought I needed to be. To be saved. What’s interesting is that I just found myself on that same “healing journey” hamster wheel, albeit in a “healthier” fashion. Nothing truly improved until I took full responsibility for everything that ever occurred and continues to occur in my life. Realizing that there was nothing to blame. And approaching it all with an on-the-knees, humbling sense of gratitude that there is and never was something “wrong” with me.

Learning how to appreciate my own obstacles inspired me to take this new approach with how I practice acupuncture, and how I wish to inspire others. It breaks my heart to hear someone talking about how there are so many things wrong with them and their situation. Sure, if you look hard enough, you’ll always see what’s wrong. Conversely, if you look hard enough, you’ll always see what’s right! It’s the wonderful duality in all things. It’s the Yin and the Yang. It’s embracing the shadows while partaking in the light. Chinese Medicine is really one of the coolest things ever, and my aim is to create more space in this field that really encourages self-development and liberation alongside optimal health. The goal is to really return to oneself, and fall in love with what you find when you get there.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.inneralchemysource.com
• Instagram: @innerachemy_souce
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/deynalibiran-lac

Image Credits
Flo Li Photography