The Happiest Lives Podcast

The Happiest Lives Podcast

The Happiest Lives was designed for Christian women who want to stop being disappointed in their relationships and feel more loved and loving. Here you will learn to think better, feel better, and love better. This podcast is hosted by Jill M. Lillard, MA LPC, a licensed counselor, and Gottman Certified Couples Therapist. Jill has been helping people manage their minds, process their feelings, and have better relationships for over 25 years. For application exercises and support in applying the concepts learned on the podcasts, you can access growth tools + Live Coaching inside her cost-effective coaching program: Clarity+Courage. Join and cancel anytime. For more intensive support, check out Jill's signature coaching program, The Happiest Lives Academy, where you receive all you need to make FIVE transformations in FIVE months. Registration opens once a year. Discover all her programs and courses at www.myhappyvault.com. You can email Jill at jill@thehappiestlives.com.

Episodes

July 4, 2025 17 mins

This begins the new series: Loosening Your Grip.

What if the very thing you’re trying to control is what’s actually keeping you stuck? In this episode, I’m sharing a really personal story. Years of chronic pain, self-reliance, and striving brought me face-to-face with a hard truth: I’m not in charge. And that’s a good thing. We’ll talk about why control feels so tempting, what happens when we hit our limit, and how real power begins...

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Worry might feel responsible. It might feel productive. But it’s not. It’s just a mental habit—one you’ve rehearsed for years. And today, we’re turning it around.

In this final episode of the Habit Turnaround series, we’re breaking down why worry shows up, how it hooks you, and what to do instead. I’ll teach you a simple, powerful tool—The Four P’s: Panic, Pause, Pray, Praise—to interrupt the spiral and access the peace that’s alrea...

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June 20, 2025 21 mins

You’re doing all the things—managing the schedule, watching the budget, keeping the peace, trying to eat clean and “be the good one.” But let’s be honest: it’s exhausting. That tight grip? That anxious push to make it all work? That’s white-knuckling.

In today’s episode, we’re breaking down the habit of white-knuckling—what it is, why we do it, and why it’s not actually helping. You’ll learn the real reason your efforts leave you ti...

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June 13, 2025 30 mins

Procrastination might not seem dramatic—but it’s quietly draining your peace, cluttering your mind, and robbing you of forward momentum. In part six of The Habit Turnaround series, we’re talking about how to stop putting things off and start showing up with purpose. 

You’ll learn why procrastination isn’t a time issue—it’s a thought pattern—and how to break the habit loop with simple mindset shifts and practical tools. If you’re tir...

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This is Part 5 of The Habit Turnaround series, and today we’re talking about quick thrills—the little dopamine hits we chase to avoid discomfort.

Whether it’s snacks, scrolling, shopping, or staying busy, these habits feel good for a moment but keep you stuck long-term. I’ll show you how to break the cycle with the 10 Minute Habit Turnaround so you can stop buffering and start living with intention.

Relationship Reinvention is a ...

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May 30, 2025 33 mins

Withdrawing might seem like the peaceful, “Christian” alternative to conflict—but it’s not. It’s just another sneaky habit that keeps us stuck. Whether you shut down in conversations, avoid emotions, or silently drift from God, today’s episode will help you see the truth behind the habit of pulling away.

In Part 4 of The Habit Turnaround Series, we’ll uncover:

• What withdrawing really looks like in your relationships, spiritual life...

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May 23, 2025 34 mins

Arguing feels automatic—but it’s actually a habit. One rooted in fear, frustration, and the need to feel in control. In today’s episode, Part 3 of The Habit Turnaround Series, I’ll show you how to interrupt that habit and build a new pattern rooted in clarity, peace, and connection.

You’ll learn:

• Why arguments keep repeating

• What emotional flooding does to your brain

• How to shift from needing to “win” to listening with love

• The ...

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May 16, 2025 21 mins

Complaining can feel justified—but is it actually helping? In this episode, we explore how complaining becomes an automatic habit, why it keeps us stuck, and what the Bible teaches about a better way forward. Instead of venting frustration, we’ll look at the biblical practice of lament—how to bring our struggles to God in a way that leads to peace, wisdom, and transformation. If you’re ready to break free from negativity and step i...

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May 9, 2025 18 mins

Most of our habits aren’t intentional—we just fall into them. But what if the habits shaping your life aren’t actually serving you? In this episode, we’re diving into The Habit Turnaround—how to recognize unhelpful patterns, understand why they stick, and intentionally create habits that align with the life God is calling you to.

We’ll break down the Habit Loop, uncover the sneaky rewards keeping bad habits in place, and explore wha...

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May 2, 2025 17 mins

In this episode, we’re wrapping up our Genesis Takeaway series with a powerful reflection on the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. At first glance, it’s a story of judgment, but when we slow down and look deeper, it reveals profound lessons about hesitation, obedience, and trust.

Are you struggling to move forward in faith? Do you find yourself looking back at what’s familiar, even when you know God is calling you into something new? Tod...

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April 25, 2025 16 mins

In this special 100th episode of The Happiest Lives Podcast, Jill Lillard dives into the lessons of waiting from the first 25 chapters of Genesis. She explores how God uses waiting as a powerful, active process that binds our hearts to His. Jill shares how waiting isn’t passive, but a season of building faith, patience, and trust. Using the stories of Noah and Abraham, she reflects on how waiting strengthens us and prepares us for ...

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April 18, 2025 10 mins

In this episode, Jill Lillard dives into the messy side of relationships through her study of Genesis. She shares how God continues to work even in our mistakes to bring about his purposes, urging us to shift our focus from who’s right and who’s wrong to how God is working and what he is calling us to do. With practical questions and biblical wisdom, Jill helps you see how God’s redemptive work can transform your heart and relation...

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April 11, 2025 13 mins

Ever feel like you—or others—need to be perfect? In this episode, Jill explores how Genesis reveals the beauty of God’s grace amid human weakness. From Adam and Eve’s fall to Cain’s destructive choices, see how God’s promises remain steady, even when we fall short. Tune in and be reminded that His strength meets you right where you are.

Relationship Reinvention is a  self-paced experience for couples who want to reset patterns,...

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April 4, 2025 9 mins

This week, we begin a new series, Genesis Takeaways, where Jill shares what God has revealed to her in the first 25 chapters of Genesis. In this episode, she explores the beauty of God’s covenant, the patterns of human weakness, and how His faithfulness remains steadfast. From Adam and Eve to Abraham and Sarah, discover how God’s love story has been unfolding since the very beginning.

Relationship Reinvention is a  self-paced e...

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March 28, 2025 13 mins

In this episode of The Happiest Lives Podcast, Jill Lillard wraps up the month’s series on Spirit-Led Planning and Execution by exploring how to be a finisher. She reveals why we lose momentum on our goals and the role of the prefrontal cortex in follow-through. She shares ten practical strategies to overcome obstacles and finish strong. Discover how perseverance, accountability, and trusting God’s guidance can help you achieve you...

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March 21, 2025 11 mins

In this episode, Jill shares how to manage your time with intention and purpose, which is part of her series on Spirit-Led Planning and Execution. Discover 12 practical tips to align your schedule with your core values, prioritize relationships, and balance work, rest, and spiritual growth. Learn how to invite God into your planning, steward time as a gift, and stay proactive in focusing on what truly matters. Tune in for insightfu...

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This is part two of the Spirit-Led Planning & Execution series, where we explore how to align your life with God’s will by prioritizing commitments that align with your values. Jill offers practical guidance for evaluating your time, energy, and focus to ensure they reflect what matters most. Tune in to learn how to recognize misaligned priorities, make intentional choices, and steward your resources with purpose.

Relationship R...

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March 7, 2025 15 mins

In this new series, discover how to align your plans with God’s will, partner with Him through obedience, and execute your goals with faith and surrender. Jill shares personal stories, biblical insights, and practical tips to help you balance spontaneity and control, stay anchored in your relationship with the Lord, and make decisions that reflect His greater vision for your life. Tune in for spiritual wisdom and actionable guidanc...

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February 28, 2025 16 mins

In the final episode of her series Reconciliation & Forgiveness, Jill Lillard dives into the art of receiving feedback—a vital part of having conversations that foster reconciliation. Jill explores the emotional challenges we face when receiving feedback and offers practical strategies for processing it effectively, regulating emotions, and delivering meaningful apologies. Tune in to discover how to approach feedback with a hea...

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February 21, 2025 21 mins

In episode three of the series Reconciliation & Forgiveness, we dive into the art of giving feedback with humility, kindness, and grace. Whether it’s a minor disagreement or a major conflict, discover practical tools to communicate clearly, invite change, and strengthen your relationships.

Relationship Reinvention is a  self-paced experience for couples who want to reset patterns, reconnect emotionally, and grow together wi...

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