[Anne Curtis] ​​​​​​​Never stop believing you can!

Welcome to Exit the Matrix Stories of Success with your host Jane Slack-Smith, where we celebrate the incredible journeys of individuals who've transcended their limitations and achieved extraordinary success.

Hello, it's Jane Slack-Smith here, and welcome to today's episode of Exit the Matrix. Now, this is a podcast dedicated to exploring life's most transformational moments, and it's my amaz— immense pleasure to introduce a very special guest today, Ann Curtis, a true changemaker and an innovator in consumer and community engagement. Now, before we jump in, I'm just going to tell you a little bit about her, and I'm going to then walk through with her the success story that she's had, where she's actually created that sliding door moment and taking an opportunity to redirect her life. Now, Anne's remarkable career began in Queensland's healthcare sector, where she adapted the kitchen table discussion methodology. Now, with this nationally recognised approach, she helped to facilitate 391 community-led discussions and yarning circles. This went beyond traditional facilitation, empowering communities to lead their own consultations on health service autonomously, thereby ensuring authentic and invaluable feedback on healthcare needs and reforms. Her exceptional skills in community engagement and consultation were further demonstrated through her work with the Queensland Health and Correctional Services. Over 6 years, Anne personally met with over 200 incarcerated men and women, gaining insights into their healthcare experiences. Her dedication to improving service delivery led to the co-design and facilitation of workshops on prisoner healthcare rights for over 200 staff members across Queensland Health and Queensland Corrective Services. Now, Anne's influence extended to digital health as well, where she played a pivotal role in developing a digital health consumer charter for Queensland in consultation with around 300 health consumers. This groundbreaking project resulted in Australia's first and possibly the world's first charter of its kind. Today, we're here to uncover another facet of Anne's journey, a significant change in direction that promises to be as impactful as her previous endeavors. Welcome to the podcast, Anne.

Oh, thank you, Jane. It's such a pleasure to be here with you this morning.

Look, you know what amazes me about your story and why I was just so excited to have you here as a guest is that, you know, you as a corporate person, you had this incredible impact on so many people and communities in, you know, teaching people how to facilitate having a voice and putting out their needs. But things change for you, didn't they? So I'm really interested in what was the sliding door moment for you.

Well, Jane, you know, there's always a moment when you go, oh, it's time to step out. And so I did that. I walked away from work I truly loved and valued, and you know what we achieved together. And yeah, I stepped out into the void, basically, uh, you know, and, uh, no income and thinking, oh, what am I going to do with myself? No, I'm not going to retire as people think. I'm not my age. I have enormous ability. I have a mind that works. And I decided that I'm going to invest in me because what happened was I started to feel this sense of joy. This joy just would keep coming and coming. And it was just that realization there's some whole new direction for me to go in and Yeah, and, and so taking that joy, I thought, okay, I'm investing in me. And for the next 6 months, uh, last year, I did about 500 hours of, of study, which was really around relearning, reinforcing a lot of what I already knew or had been in my past, but gave me that ability to completely change direction. And find a way forward instead of staying where I was and where I thought I was going to be possibly at this stage in life.

There's, there's a lot of bravery, you know, for people of a certain age where everyone thinks you're about to retire, that you go, well, I've got a, a well-paying job, you know, there's money coming in, there's, there's, uh, some retirement funds gonna be sitting there and you go, actually no, my joy is elsewhere. Tell me about the, the training you did and particularly, you know, what that has brought you to today.

So I actually did 3 lots of training in that time. One, um, I did a Master Practitioner of Energy Medicine, uh, through the Four Winds School in the US. So that was a 6-month commitment of being up at 3:00 AM every week for 2 hours. Uh, but I loved it because it just brought back that side of me that's always been there and has been in my past very much of doing healing work, uh, of being a facilitator. At the same time, out of the blue came, uh, the Natural Success work with William Whitecloud. And, you know, I, I went to this 5-day free training with, with William and suddenly realized, well, oh, I, I'm actually learning sort of similar across two things but from very different perspectives. And, and this is, is waking up what I thought my intuition had really gone, but it just brought it back. So I carried on. And, and through to mastery, you know, with natural success. And, and, you know, I have found myself in the most extraordinary place with the most incredible people, and I'm loving every aspect of it. And then at the same time, my other love that I, I have is around, uh, the, uh, the Rites of the Moon Aiki, which are initiations. And, uh, through the shaman in Peru, and also very similar to the Four Winds work, obviously very involved. And combining all of that, you know, I went through as a teacher in that, and it was, yeah, it was magical. And then, you know, that was, yeah, I stepped into that, into investing in me.

You know what I love about that is that, you know, you know, we've had conversations. I've actually been— had the pleasure of working with, with Anne, and we've had these conversations about what you perceived as there was a corporate side of you, you know, this incredibly successful career in, in giving people the, the skills to facilitate a community consultation so they have a voice in changes they're making. And then you had this joy moment where you said, no, I'm going to spend 500 hours investing in myself, and you went through and you, you had this entire kind of, no, I'm going to stop this and move on, that's in my past. And then I hear you saying, you know, I really was doing energy healing and, and actually giving people this voice, although it seemed like a corporate, you know, how to, to speak your truth and how to, you know, engage and have meaningful conversations. You then went back and went, actually, it's all energy.

Yes.

So now, now there's kind of this crossover point, right, where you go, well, maybe I didn't turn the corporate, the corporate light off. Because I think for people who, who listen to this podcast, often we sit there and we go, I have this career, if I'm going to go for my heart and what I enjoy, I have to cut everything off. So if you think back to those beautiful, with the indigenous groups, the yarning circles and with the community groups, you know, the kitchen table kind of selections. I imagine there's a point before that where people need to have also an understanding of where they're coming from. Could you talk to that and how you're helping corporates now doing that as well?

So I work for an NGO with this work. So Yeah, so in that, for me at that time, if I can answer it this way, I always felt that people should lead their own consultation. They should do the leading. You know, they have the voice out there in community, and that was what that work came about because of that. We're capable. We're all capable, you know, and that's valuable. But, you know, I would see things and I would hear from people, oh, you know, I can't do that. I can't be a host. You know, who am I? I'm not a facilitator. I'm not a trainer. You know, how do I How do I bring people together? And it's like, well, you know, basically it's that saying of who you not to do this. Um, and, and then I, you know, I had that breakthrough moment, as you say, Jane, where I thought I, I would cut from that world. But you know, there is just so many opportunities for bringing that voice out. You know that, you know, you have a purpose, you want to say something, you want to be somewhere, you want to put your voice there. And, you know, it's now turning into that. And I think that's for anyone, let alone people who want to take a role on a committee within an organization like, you know, like a government body. But just finding what is it that stops you from actually taking that step and thinking that it's not you and why should you be there? And what about all these people are so professional and I don't know, I don't have these skills, but You know, it's about authenticity. You know, when you come from that perspective of authenticity and you're in truth, then yeah, it's, it's potent, it's powerful.

You know, it makes me think, you know, way back in my youth, I worked for a multinational company and every 3 to 5 years there'd be a new CEO and they'd bring in their change management teams and they'd put us into focus groups. And I was so excited. I'd be like, oh my gosh, we can make these changes. And you'd be put into a group and there was always kind of a bit of a hierarchy where, you know, you had a mid-manager, you had an operational manager, then you had some people who did the grunt work, and then you had the admin in between. And, you know, I turn up to these things full of these ideas and the management would go, no, no. And at that stage I felt I didn't have the power. And so I just was quiet. And the management that had been the management all along with the management ideas put their new management ideas in place, which are kind of like just a tiny pivot on the old ones, and nothing ever changed. We get a new CEO because we didn't have a good, a good income, and they'd do another change management. And it— what strikes me is there is this point, um, within corporates and within our own personal lives where we need to know where we're coming from. We, we have, you know, potentially we have an awareness point, but there's also, as you say, almost a healing point when you go Or where did that kind of powerlessness come from? Why? Why am I keeping my mouth closed? And, you know, I think, you know, knowing some of the work that you do individually with people and with corporates, why— what do you think when you talk to people and you've spoken to over 200 people in jails, let's be honest, who feel that their voice has been minimized? What is the kind of most common reason why people feel that they can't speak their truth, or they can't make a contribution, or they can't be a facilitator, or it's not in them?

You know, it varies with the person. Um, their voice isn't important, no one would want to hear from them. Um, they've said it a million times and no one's heard. So I, I, you know, I think there's a double side to this too, because I was lucky that I worked with, you know, Queensland Health and other NGO organizations and other government bodies with this work who actually were really open to hearing the truth and hearing what was being said. And that's the power is both sides. So even though, you know, we may think, you know, my voice is not important and I've been there, you know, I've experienced that myself, you know, like you, it's, you close down, but when you've got you know, but we don't— and we don't think that anyone wants to hear from us. But when we, when we realize we're actually being heard, like these organizations would hear from them, from people, and change would happen, and, and people were thrilled. It was like, oh, you know, I want— I'm going to— I'm heard. Someone hears me. And we get so— people get so frustrated when they think they're not being heard. But, and then sometimes you don't come from the right perspective. So, you know, it's, it is a two-way street. You've got to want to be heard and, or you want to, you know, have your voice, um, heard. But the organization that that information is going to, they've got to want to hear that voice. And that's where the power is, when you come to that meeting point.

And, and what I love about, you know, this kind of you know, you say you followed your joy, you know, never stopped believing in yourself. You've thrown away this job in, in, in your mind. You've made this commitment. And now, you know, where you are is that you do, you do work with people to help understand the voice and have a voice and understand others' voices and have that. But then there's a deeper level, isn't it, that you do healing? And there's actually for some people, there is actually a certain amount of healing. I'd love you just to talk to, you know, that, that deeper type of work that you do as well?

Yeah, in my, you know, the healing practice. So I'm a facilitator because we do our own healing. And, um, but basically my work is, you know, so much, you know, it comes up where people feel they have a lump in their throat. You know, I've always felt I've got this blockage in my throat and I don't know what it is. And I've spoken to doctors, there's nothing there. It's their voice, you know. It's, it's like there's something packed in here and they don't have to express what's happening to them. And whether that's, you know, it's, it's staying quiet, it's staying— sometimes it's actually staying in an unhealthy situation or a relationship, because if you, you open this up and you speak out of here, gosh, you don't know what's going to come You know, or it's come from our childhood where we were told to be quiet. You know, there's so many different ways. And so my work is, you know, from that perspective, is, is to help find what that is. What has happened in your childhood, uh, in your teen years, in your adulthood, whenever it is, you know, that this, you know, your voice or your heart, you know, and what's in your solar plexus, you know, your fears, where are they in that physical body? And it's about helping to move that out, which opens the way then for, you know, new beginnings.

Now a quick word from our sponsor, Your Success Club. Your Success Club is a group of vibrant abundance seekers. If you subscribe to exitthematrix.io, we are going to drop you into the club room, which has lots of goodies, resources, and a free gift just for subscribing. Now back to the podcast. Well, let me just take you back to that sliding door moment. You know, you've made the decision to make the change. I imagine there was a little anxiety or, you know, no income, etc. Could you just talk to what were the most significant challenges and obstacles you faced and how you were dealing with those on a daily basis?

Ah, you know, it's really interesting because, yeah, I went through those moments of what am I doing? Oh my God, God, think about, you know, and I would go into the age thing. What am I doing at this age? Um, I don't have an income, and I had a really good income, and I've still got all this, you know, life happens. And I thought, you know something, even if it takes whatever I have, I will do what I want to do to create what I want to create. And then I went into peace about it, you know, and, and that's The thing is, I didn't go into struggle. Yeah, sometimes it'll come up, but I look at it and I think, well, is that where I want to go? And it's been quite amazing. You know, at times, you know, I think, oh my God, this is massive, you know, big bill coming through and where's the money for that? And then, you know, it kind of just turns up in odd ways. And I think, well, wow, you know, I'm so it's, it's part of that, you know, belief system, you know, that I'm taking this path. It's a journey I'm on. I'm gonna trust the process and I'll be supported.

Yeah. And that belief in what you're creating and coming from the position of service to others, you, it, it always astounds me every time I speak to someone when they're having these sliding door moments. Often what is at the base of that is that I have a bigger contribution to make and a service to others. And so can you talk about today, you know, how are, how are things today? You know, how's life changed since you exited the matrix?

Well, you know, in that time that I, you know, I also, you know, went through a program that's as part of one of the trainings, uh, with a grow a new body, you know. And I decided, yeah, time to grow a new body, you know, and, and brain, because also the brain's in there. Um, and, you know, I, I shifted, you know, sort of 15 kilos, and I'm back in that process again now to do the next stage, uh, keep the brain alive and active, um, and the body moving. I, uh, gosh, I, I went through so much, you know. I let my hair go gray. I I let go. I just, I let go of the things that I was holding on where I thought I had to be. And now, you know, I have this practice where I, you know, I love being a healing facilitator. I love the energy work. I just love energy and, and I love giving that. And, and that's where I am. But my mind, my brain, my brain is going and I've got these ideas and, you know, and it's like Yes, I'm having a retreat in July, which is fantastic. And it's, it's, you know, and, and I'm, I've got opportunities that are just coming and the doors are opening and it's, you know, and, and I'm holding this space and for whatever creates. And I don't have a definite line, you know, this is the path I'm going down and I'm not, I'm not moving from that because it's, that stops me here. Whereas when I allow myself to go, yeah, I was heading in that track, but this track is now really strong. I'm now going in that track.

So I'm allowing it now and not in the house.

Yes. Yeah.

Look, you mentioned the retreats that you run. I know that you've got one in July 2024. You run them regularly. If you're listening to this podcast in the future, um, the next one's in the Hinterlands in Queensland. Tell us a little bit about the retreats and how you help facilitate, uh, people's healing and, and journey.

Well, the one that I'm doing in July, um, with the 19th to the 22nd of July, is, um, the Rites of the Moon A'ike. So there are 10 rites to the Moon A'ike, and this has come out of Peru from the Quero Shaman. And it, you know, this is about change on the planet. We, we're all responsible for what happens to our planet, what happens to our world. And these are initiations into a beautiful way of being, and, and it's incredible energy. But what I'm doing in the retreat retreat is not only giving, you know, the, the rites to the people who come, but also training them how to pass the rites on. But I'm also bringing together, um, the food that they will eat in this retreat is, is around growing a new body and brain. And, um, so it'll be no sugar, all organic. Some of it's going to be grown on the actual land. Um, it's, it's going to be a luxurious retreat but not in the accommodation. It's the land and the feeling in the Glasshouse Mountains is such a beautiful area and it's going to be very much, you know, outdoors because, you know, even in winter in Queensland, it's just stunning. So it is a healing for everyone that comes and it's an awakening and that's very important as well, that awakening side.

There's so many aspects to Anne Curtis, as you can hear. You can contact her on luminosityenergyhealing.com, sign up out for her newsletter tips, reach out to her about her retreats for her heal energy healing, which can be done online or in person. She has many programs: Awaken the Spark, The Voice on Purpose, Embody Your Genius, to help you grow and know your own voice and where you're coming from. And obviously she does a lot of corporate work as well in helping people, but it's all around changing your story and being aware of it. So, and I really appreciate it. And before we go, Just for fun, I always ask people to tell us something really cool or unusual or different or unique or bizarre about yourself.

I've cooked— I cooked dinner for Gough Whitlam when he was retired from as Prime Minister of Australia, and he was being painted by a well-known artist in Victoria, Clifton Pugh, for the Archibald Prize. And I'd been asked to come up and cook dinner and steak dinner. And, um, yeah, he was so hungry from his day of painting, you know. He had his, um, you know, he was fingers into the frying pan and, you know, what's for dinner, and, you know, eating. Absolutely delightful man to spend time with him. And yes, so most people don't know that, you know. That was my cooking side. That's my creative side.

So another part of that. Well, thank you very much, and I really appreciate your time today and, uh, yeah, sharing your story with everyone.

Jane, thank you so much. It's such a pleasure to be with you. And, uh, yeah, thank you.

Well, thank you so much, Anne. And look, just before we go, if you like this episode, I would be so grateful if you would leave us a 5-star review. Now, you can only do that on Apple iTunes. Go to the episode, scroll to the bottom. Hopefully you're logged in. Leave us a review and 5 stars. Let's hack that algorithm and beat the matrix at its own game. And that will allow us to share these inspirational stories with even more people. And whilst you are there, please recommend the podcast to other people because after all, sharing is caring. And then head over and subscribe at exitthematrix.io right now. I have an incredible gift just for subscribing and I can keep you up to date with future guests. So that's it from me. Thank you so very much for listening to Exit the Matrix. And as always, here's to your success.

Thank you for listening to Exit the Matrix Stories of Success. Make sure you subscribe to future episodes at www.exitthematrix.io. Until next time, here's to your success. Why not everyone?