Building HER with Katja Lillian

Katja Lillian

Do you want to build the best version of yourself and therefore life? If so, you’ve come to the right podcast! Tune in every week for inspiring conversations and unfiltered stories that will leave you feeling empowered and excited so that you can build a life that aligns with your deepest values and one you wake up excited for. Your host, life coach and entrepreneur, Katja Lillian, will draw on her years of self-education, her experience building a business, & lessons from her mentors to deliver helpful advice, actionable steps, and next-level mindset hacks. Are you ready? Let’s go start Building HER! 

  1. FEB 6

    How To Forgive Yourself: My 4-Step Process

    What if the reason you’re stuck in fear, self-doubt, and negative thought spirals isn’t because you’re “broken”… but because there’s something you haven’t forgiven yet? In today’s episode, I’m sharing a powerful pattern I notice in all my clients and it led us straight to one root cause I’ve seen over and over again in my 10+ years of personal development and 5 years of coaching: 👉 You can’t become the observer of your thoughts until you forgive yourself first. This episode dives deep into the connection between fear-based thinking, self-criticism, guilt, shame, and forgiveness - and why forgiveness is the missing link to emotional freedom, clarity, and faith-based thinking. If you feel trapped in your own mind, replaying past mistakes, projecting old pain into future scenarios, or living under the weight of guilt and self-judgment… this episode is for you. In This Episode, We Explore: Why fear-based thinking keeps repeating until forgiveness happensThe difference between living in a mental cage vs. a mental gardenHow guilt and shame quietly turn behaviors into identity (“I messed up” vs. “I am bad”)Why you can’t outwork self-hatred or think your way out of itThe real reason your inner critic keeps bringing up past mistakesHow unforgiven moments block presence, peace, and self-trustThe connection between forgiveness and emotional intelligenceWhy forgiving yourself naturally leads to forgiving othersA powerful reframe for guilt: behavior vs. identityThe 4-step forgiveness process you can use How past versions of you deserve compassion, not punishmentPersonal stories I’ve never fully shared before—including quitting tennis, identity loss, and healing old shameWhy forgiveness doesn’t mean reconciliation—and how boundaries still matterHow releasing the past frees your future creativity, confidence, and faithThis episode is an invitation to stop punishing yourself for who you were… so you can finally live as who you’re becoming.

    26 min
  2. JAN 23

    Why the “Easier” Path Leads to Burnout (And How Choosing Alignment Changes Everything)

    What if the path that looks easier on paper is actually the one draining you the most? In today’s episode, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing a real text message I sent to one of my long-term private clients - an accomplished woman in tech who has everything society says you should want… and yet feels anxious, disconnected, burned out, and deeply misaligned. This conversation cracked something open - and I know it will for you too. We’re diving into the two lies women are taught about success: that the “easier path” should feel good, and that alignment should feel effortless. Spoiler alert: neither is true. If you’re in a high-paying job you secretly resent, wearing golden handcuffs, battling imposter syndrome, or wondering “Why can’t I just be happy with this?”—this episode will hit home. I break down the difference between short-term comfort vs. long-term fulfillment, why alignment feels hard at first but gets easier over time, and how to start building self-trust and confidence without quitting your job or blowing up your life. You’ll hear: Why the “easier” career path slowly erodes confidence, creativity, and self-trustThe truth about alignment (and why it often feels harder before it feels lighter)How anxiety, burnout, and imposter syndrome are often signs of misalignment - not failureThe exact mindset shift that helped my client make over $30K on the side while still in techThe four phases of transitioning from a misaligned career into meaningful workHow to start exploring what lights you up without starting over or taking reckless risksWhy courage, uncertainty, and blind faith are muscles you have to practiceHow to follow your curiosity, energy, and excitement as clues to your next chapterThe question every woman should ask herself before choosing “safe” over alignedThis episode is for the woman who knows deep down that there’s more for her… but needs permission, perspective, and a grounded path forward. Because the easier path doesn’t stay easy forever. And alignment, while uncomfortable at first, pays dividends for life. If this resonates, send me a DM. I’m here to support you - no pressure, ever.

    27 min
  3. JAN 2

    The Emotional Skill That Determines Whether You Quit or Keep Going

    I’m recording this episode from my parents’ guest bedroom in California - not because it was planned, but because life happened. A family health scare pulled me across the country, and in the middle of supporting my mom, solo parenting, and navigating heavy emotions, I still showed up for my business, my clients, and this podcast. In this episode, we’re talking about emotional intelligence and resilience - the skills that actually determine whether you keep going when life gets hard. Because success isn’t about perfect conditions, motivation, or hustle. It’s about how well you can regulate your emotions, lead yourself through discomfort, and keep taking action when life throws curveballs. This is a real, honest conversation for the woman building a business while life is still happening. ✨ In This Episode, We Talk About: 00:00 – Why I’m recording this episode from California 04:15 – Why success has less to do with intelligence and more to do with emotional regulation 08:30 – What emotional intelligence really means (and what it’s NOT) 14:10 – The duality of emotions as a mom and entrepreneur 19:45 – Why consistency breaks down when emotions run the show 24:30 – Emotional intelligence vs. resilience (and how they work together) 30:10 – Common ways entrepreneurs self-sabotage when emotions get heavy 36:40 – Why discomfort is a sign of growth, not failure 41:55 – How journaling builds emotional intelligence and resilience 47:20 – 5 powerful journal prompts to regulate emotions and keep going 55:30 – Final reminder: you don’t need perfect conditions to succeed If this episode resonated with you, DM me on Instagram - I love having real conversations in the DMs. And if you’re feeling called to build your next chapter with support, I currently have limited one-on-one coaching spots for 2026 and my SheEO mastermind for early & aspiring coaches kicking off in March. Journal Prompts: 1. What am I feeling right now - and where do I feel it in my body? 2. What story am I telling myself about this feeling or situation? 3. Is my reaction coming from fear, protection, or leadership? 4. What would the most grounded version of me do next - even if it’s uncomfortable? 5. When have I felt something similar before - and kept going anyway?

    34 min
5
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

Do you want to build the best version of yourself and therefore life? If so, you’ve come to the right podcast! Tune in every week for inspiring conversations and unfiltered stories that will leave you feeling empowered and excited so that you can build a life that aligns with your deepest values and one you wake up excited for. Your host, life coach and entrepreneur, Katja Lillian, will draw on her years of self-education, her experience building a business, & lessons from her mentors to deliver helpful advice, actionable steps, and next-level mindset hacks. Are you ready? Let’s go start Building HER!