The Happiest Lives Podcast

Jill M. Lillard
  • 4.9 (80)
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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, get your FREE podcast guide www.myhappyvault.com/podcastLearn more at www.thehappiestlives.com  Discover tools at  www.myhappyvault.com.Contact Jill at jill@thehappiestlives.com.

  1. E137: Minister or Martyr? Learning the Difference

    5H AGO

    E137: Minister or Martyr? Learning the Difference

    *Get your free guide, 3 Ways of Relating When Love Feels Uncertain at www.myhappyvault.com/uncertain In part two of our series, Loving Without Losing Your Real Self, we look at a pattern many of us fall into without noticing: serving from a place of fear, pressure, or over-responsibility. On the outside, it looks like love… but inside, it feels heavy and resentful. In this episode, we explore the difference between ministering (showing up as the grounded, Spirit-led woman God formed you to be) and martyring (losing yourself in the name of keeping the peace). We talk about how the false self drives both over-involvement and avoidance, how people-pleasing differs from true self-denial, and why some of us feel responsible for things God never asked us to carry. You’ll also hear practical and compassionate insight for those in harder relationships—places where someone’s behavior is genuinely harmful—and why loving well does not mean tolerating damage to your heart or home. If you’ve ever wondered where healthy sacrifice ends and self-erasure begins, this episode will give you clarity, language, and a way back to your real, Jesus-anchored self. Free Resource: Download the Heart Scan Framework—a simple reference sheet outlining the four movements I use when coaching women through stuck or unclear moments. 👉 myhappyvault.com/heartscan If you want to take this work and apply it, visit myhappyvault.com. That’s where I share free resources and ways to stay connected. Discover ways to work with me at www.thehappiestlives.com or www.myhappyvault.com Questions? Email Jill directly at Jill@thehappiestlives.com

    27 min
  2. E136: When Loving Feels Lopsided

    FEB 6

    E136: When Loving Feels Lopsided

    This is Episode One in a brand-new series called Loving Without Losing Your Real Self — a series all about learning how to love the people in your life without disappearing, over-functioning, or drifting into resentment. And today, we’re starting with something almost every woman has felt: when a relationship feels lopsided. Maybe you’re the one who initiates. Maybe you carry the emotional weight. Maybe you’re always the one reaching out, inviting, or trying to keep things going. And somewhere inside you wonder: Is this about me? About them? Are we just wired differently? And how do I love well here without losing myself? In this episode, we’ll talk about: why we long for mutuality in our relationshipshow our hearts react when love feels unbalancedthe difference between honoring someone’s wiring and expecting samenessthe shift from scorekeeping to Spirit-led willingnesshow humility can soften your posture without asking you to do all the workYou’ll also get a handful of gentle reflection questions to help you look honestly at one relationship in your life that feels uneven right now — and if you want support applying what you’re learning each month, I’ll share how Clarity + Courage can help you build a steady rhythm of growth that fits your real life. If you’ve ever wondered how to love deeply without abandoning yourself, this episode will meet you right where you are and help you begin that journey with clarity, compassion, and the steady presence of Jesus. Free Resource: Download the Heart Scan Framework—a simple reference sheet outlining the four movements I use when coaching women through stuck or unclear moments. 👉 myhappyvault.com/heartscan If you want to take this work and apply it, visit myhappyvault.com. That’s where I share free resources and ways to stay connected. Discover ways to work with me at www.thehappiestlives.com or www.myhappyvault.com Questions? Email Jill directly at Jill@thehappiestlives.com

    20 min
  3. E135: When God Uses Unhappiness

    JAN 23

    E135: When God Uses Unhappiness

    *Grab your FREE Heart Scan printable at myhappyvault.com/heartscan, and listen in as we close this series with hope. We’re wrapping up our Happiness & Unhappiness- Finding Jesus In The 50/50 series by stepping into the part we tend to avoid—how God uses unhappiness to shape us. If you’ve ever wondered why certain seasons feel so heavy or why your emotions seem “off,” this episode will help you see those moments through a completely different lens. We’re opening Hebrews to see how God formed Jesus through suffering—yes, Jesus—and why that matters for your own formation. I’ll walk you through seven surprising ways God grows you through disappointment, resistance, and grief… and how the Heart Scan can help you meet Him right in the middle of it all. If you’re carrying something hard right now, this conversation will help you breathe again and remember: unhappiness isn’t a failure. It’s often the doorway to deeper intimacy with Christ. Free Resource: Download the Heart Scan Framework—a simple reference sheet outlining the four movements I use when coaching women through stuck or unclear moments. 👉 myhappyvault.com/heartscan If you want to take this work and apply it, visit myhappyvault.com. That’s where I share free resources and ways to stay connected. Discover ways to work with me at www.thehappiestlives.com or www.myhappyvault.com Questions? Email Jill directly at Jill@thehappiestlives.com

    18 min
  4. E134: Emotional Courage

    JAN 16

    E134: Emotional Courage

    * Make sure you grab your FREE Printable The Heart Scan Framework to tuck in your Bible or journal at www.myhappyvault.com/heartscan. In part three of Happiness & Unhappiness: Finding Jesus in the 50/50, we’re talking about emotional courage—the strength to face what we feel instead of running from it. Most of us aren’t actually afraid of the emotion; we’re afraid of the story our mind attaches to it. In this episode, Jill unpacks why unhappiness feels threatening, why emotions sometimes overwhelm us, and how the Israelites became “discouraged because of the trials of the way.” You’ll hear a personal moment when Jill felt emotionally flooded—and how that reaction became an invitation to pause, uncover the thoughts underneath, and practice emotional courage with Jesus. She also walks through the Heart Scan and FEEL Method so you can process emotions like anxiety with honesty, Scripture, and grace. And you’ll leave with a simple 90-second practice you can use every day. If you’ve been avoiding your feelings or fearing what they’ll do to you, this episode will help you slow down, get honest, and meet Jesus in the middle of it. Free Resource: Download the Heart Scan Framework—a simple reference sheet outlining the four movements I use when coaching women through stuck or unclear moments. 👉 myhappyvault.com/heartscan If you want to take this work and apply it, visit myhappyvault.com. That’s where I share free resources and ways to stay connected. Discover ways to work with me at www.thehappiestlives.com or www.myhappyvault.com Questions? Email Jill directly at Jill@thehappiestlives.com

    28 min
  5. E133: Happiness On Purpose

    JAN 9

    E133: Happiness On Purpose

    This is the second episode in the series Happiness and Unhappiness: Finding Jesus in the 50-50. Life will always hold both joy and sorrow—but happiness doesn’t happen by chance. It’s something we build through habits, perspective, and practices that make room for the Holy Spirit to flow through us. In this episode, Jill shares the three movements of a happy soul—delight in the Lord, contentment in Christ, and purpose in love. You’ll learn how to cultivate joy in the middle of ordinary days, how gratitude rewires your brain for peace, and how to find meaning even when life feels full. Happiness isn’t about escaping the hard parts of life—it’s about finding Jesus in the middle of them. Free Resource: Download the Heart Scan Framework—a simple reference sheet outlining the four movements I use when coaching women through stuck or unclear moments. 👉 myhappyvault.com/heartscan If you want to take this work and apply it, visit myhappyvault.com. That’s where I share free resources and ways to stay connected. Discover ways to work with me at www.thehappiestlives.com or www.myhappyvault.com Questions? Email Jill directly at Jill@thehappiestlives.com

    22 min
  6. E132: Happiness & Unhappiness

    JAN 2

    E132: Happiness & Unhappiness

    This is the beginning of a new series—Happiness and Unhappiness- Finding Jesus in the 50/50. Life is both. We often think happiness means the absence of unhappiness, but what if they’re two separate tracks we walk at the same time? In this episode, we’ll talk about how joy and sorrow can coexist, why unhappiness isn’t a sign that something’s gone wrong, and how learning to hold both can lead to a deeper kind of peace. Free Resource: Download the Heart Scan Framework—a simple reference sheet outlining the four movements I use when coaching women through stuck or unclear moments. 👉 myhappyvault.com/heartscan If you want to take this work and apply it, visit myhappyvault.com. That’s where I share free resources and ways to stay connected. Discover ways to work with me at www.thehappiestlives.com or www.myhappyvault.com Questions? Email Jill directly at Jill@thehappiestlives.com

    33 min
  7. E131: From Listening to Living- Pressing On In The Spirit

    11/28/2025

    E131: From Listening to Living- Pressing On In The Spirit

    This is the final episode in the series The Listening Life: How to Hear God’s Voice. Over the last few weeks we’ve learned to slow down, turn on the lights, and make space to hear from God. But how do we carry that into the messy middle of our real lives? In this episode, I’ll share how a couple learned to lay down heavy burdens in prayer, how waiting with longing can actually bind our hearts to God, and why faith always shows up in action. Get your FREE guide 45-Minute Morning Meeting With The Holy Spirit Free Resource: Download the Heart Scan Framework—a simple reference sheet outlining the four movements I use when coaching women through stuck or unclear moments. 👉 myhappyvault.com/heartscan If you want to take this work and apply it, visit myhappyvault.com. That’s where I share free resources and ways to stay connected. Discover ways to work with me at www.thehappiestlives.com or www.myhappyvault.com Questions? Email Jill directly at Jill@thehappiestlives.com

    12 min
  8. E130: Turning On The Lights

    11/21/2025

    E130: Turning On The Lights

    Have you ever sat down with God feeling heavy, distracted, or unsure where to start—and walked away renewed? In this episode, I share exactly what happened during a 45-minute meeting with the Holy Spirit. I came with aches, longings, and discouragement, but God met me with truth, shifted my perspective, and reminded me that what feels dormant is not dead. We’ll talk about why we resist honesty, how repentance is really about redirection—not guilt—and how His Word brings the light that changes everything. If you’re ready for clarity and renewal, this conversation will show you how to come as you are and leave transformed. 👉 Grab the free printable guide to the 45-minute Morning Meeting with the Holy Spirit at myhappyvault.com/morningmeeting. Free Resource: Download the Heart Scan Framework—a simple reference sheet outlining the four movements I use when coaching women through stuck or unclear moments. 👉 myhappyvault.com/heartscan If you want to take this work and apply it, visit myhappyvault.com. That’s where I share free resources and ways to stay connected. Discover ways to work with me at www.thehappiestlives.com or www.myhappyvault.com Questions? Email Jill directly at Jill@thehappiestlives.com

    16 min
See All (138)

4.9
out of 5
80 Ratings

About

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, get your FREE podcast guide www.myhappyvault.com/podcastLearn more at www.thehappiestlives.com  Discover tools at  www.myhappyvault.com.Contact Jill at jill@thehappiestlives.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Jill M. Lillard
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    138
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Happiest Lives Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Happiest Lives Podcast

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