#99 Rewriting Your Childhood Stories

Today, I interview Calvin Niles who was raised in Barbados, a small island in the Caribbean. He had a loving environment, but his father was a strict disciplinarian who made sure his children minded their manners. His father's discipline style instilled in him a need for approval and reinforced a carrot-and-stick mentality. The school system was also quite rigid, and physical punishment was common. The government had a strong intention to provide a high education standard, but sometimes the disciplinary actions taken were harmful, such as being beaten for not knowing timetables or getting a school uniform dirty. Calvin moved to London as a teenager after finishing his studies, where he discovered a new version of freedom. He was able to attend college and explore his creativity, which was a rebirth for him. He found a sense of home in London and has lived there for more than 20 years. Despite this, he still feels ties to his birthplace, Barbados. In London, he was able to rediscover his burning urge to create and express himself organically. He found his voice through allowing space for things to arise and eventually started to expand. Calvin is a holistic storytelling coach who helps individuals and organizations discover new perspectives through self-discovery and expression. He also specializes in strategic storytelling, where he assists organizations to use stories to connect with their teams and customers authentically. He imbues his coaching with mindfulness, and all of his work is available on his website, calvinniles.com, where people can find links to his social media channels and access all of his freely available work. His coaching approach is focused on helping people find their voice and validate their expression, and he believes that breaking open and going through a deep self-inquiry is a necessary part of this process. He has just released his latest book, “Nami and Kai: A Tale of Friendship Love Courage and Truth.” “Nami and Kai” is intended for all ages and is warmly recommended as a gift for adults and parents who love to read with their children. _____________________ Calvin is a creative communicator and specialist in transformational and strategic storytelling. He is currently engaging global audiences within the Siemens DISW community. As an award-winning storytelling coach and consultant, he counts some of the UK’s best-loved charity organizations, local government councils and the UK’s Ministry of Defense among his past engagements. He is the author of the novel, The Sun Rises in Eastmoor, the mindful poetry collection Breathe Between the Lines, and the co-author of Mindfulness for Challenging Times. Calvin’s coaching and communication talents underlie his ability to get to the heart of problems. His vision and penchant for efficiency help businesses get things done. Experienced at both strategic and tactical levels, Calvin sees adaptability as key to ensuring that his supply of skills is transferred to those with the greatest demand, and where the biggest impact can be made. While drive and determination fuel his work ethic, an attitude of good humor makes all the difference. Find Calvin here: www.calvinniles.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/calvin-niles/ ____________________I'm your podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, and I help people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be confident, and speak from the amazing  Essence of they truly are. Get started now on your journey to your authentic voice by downloading my Free 7 Step Guide to Fearless Speaking: https://www.doreen7steps.com. Support the showI’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.