Jill Griffin
Qualified Life Coach
Mindfulness Practitioner & Coach
Coaching in English, French, Italian, German and Swiss-German
Also: Former Drama and Languages teacher at Geraldine High School and via private lessons; Co-Founder of the the Geraldine Academy of Performance & Arts; Events Coordinator and creator of the Geraldine Winterlights Festival, and Co-creator of the Earth Hour Magical Lantern Walks and Future Living Festivals.
AboutMe:
Ever since experiencing a life coaching weekend in my early twenties, and especially while working as an actress and as a drama and language teacher, my main interest always lay in understanding how we, humans beings, really work: how we interact, how we make choices, how we learn, how we communicate, how our emotions, thoughts and actions interact, and how we can inspire each other to be our best selves.
Most importantly, I have always been passionate about understanding how we can influence how we feel, and thereofore create a better reality for ouselves; one that is filled with joy and deep satisfaction.
As well as being a qualified Life Coach and Mindfulness Practitioner & Coach, I am a proud mum of two very happy young adults, with whom I have an excellent relationship.
I have travelled to over 30 countries which has expanded my horizons and understanding of other cultures and ways of life. Prior to training as a Life Coach, my professional background was in the performing arts, teaching drama and languages, and in events management. I have over twenty years experience teaching and coaching people of all ages and abilities (aged 4 to age 80+), with a focus for many years on teens. The red thread that connects all the work I have done, is bringing people together as well as guiding people to understand themselves better.
In 2020 I trained as a Life Coach, and have truly found a much more efficient and meaningful way to do just that. Personal challenges, like a not so harmonious marriage and a difficult break-up, raising my two children as a single mum on the opposite side of the world from all of my family, while reinventing myself professionally, all further shaped my understanding of, and respect for, other people’s journeys, and the incredible pressures that are put upon families and individuals in today’s society. These experiences have given me insight into how to turn challenges into opportunities, how to find happiness regardless of financial or other external circumstances, and they have deepened my interest in, and understanding of, parenting, education, psychology, community and personal development. And when you boil it all down, happiness and satisfaction are easy once you understand yourself better, and know what is important to you. And it's a mindset that I can't wait to share with you. I'm looking forward to being your thinking-partner, coach, guide and cheerleader in the upcoming important turning points in your life.
I’m passionate about helping people achieve their goals and live a happy fulfilled life.
Originally from Switzerland, I trained and worked as an actor in London and Switzerland, and have now been living in the beautiful South Island of New Zealand for the past 20 years.
In Switzerland, I worked as Service Manager and Translator at the World Trade Centre Lugano, and later helped establish a drama school for teenagers and adults.
Here in New Zealand I co-founded the Geraldine Academy of Performance & Arts, had the opportunity to create multi-day festivals (Winterlights Festivals, Earth Hour Magical Lantern Walks, Future Living Festivals) with great community support, I acted at the Court Theatre in Christchurch, and taught languages and/or coached drama at the Geraldine High School, Waihi Boys School, Alliance Française Timaru, the Geraldine Academy, the Geraldine Kindergarten and via private courses. I also enjoyed my time as Activities Coordinator/Diversional Therapist, for the elderly.
Teaching and education in general, are big passions of mine, and I am so grateful to have been able to teach and coach people of every age, on a weekly basis. As a child I was lucky enough to attend a beautiful, forward-thinking Rudolph Steiner school, which has a unique and holistic way of teaching, which later informed my own, immersive, teaching style.
But I always felt that there needed to be a better way for me to truly make a difference to others. Coaching is that way for me.
I did my training as a Life Coach in 2020 and started coaching in April 2021 and I've been humbled by the profound ways coaching has helped my clients.
While my work has given me huge satisfactions, parenting has been my main focus throughout; I relished every minute of every phase, and and I did all I could to give my children a simple but magical childhood and a broad education, in the aim of raising confident, happy, independant and free-thinking young people to send off into the world.
In my free time I love good conversations around my outdoor fire, hiking in our stunning mountains, and singing with friends .
Life coaching is the most effective means of drawing together my skills, to create good in the world.
I look forward to hearing about how I can help you on your journey.
Nga mihi, Jill
