The Power of Soft Strength in Parenting and Life With Holly Swenson

Holly Swenson’s presence instantly softens a room. An award-winning author, registered nurse, wellness advocate, and mother of four boys, she carries a rare blend of grounded wisdom, calm authority, and deep maternal devotion. Her life and work are rooted in presence, intentionality, and the belief that how we live and parent today shapes generations to come.

Welcoming Holly to this episode of Intimate Conversations, opening Season 14, Dark Night to Divine Light, there was a felt sense of steadiness, elegance, and emotional safety as we explored what it truly means to parent and live from a regulated nervous system, a full heart, and a conscious yes to life.

In this nourishing and deeply practical conversation we explored:

How Holly cultivated her calm not because life was easy, but because adversity taught her how to become the calm in the storm, supported by daily rituals of quiet, meditation, and intentional presence.

What it actually looks like to create non-negotiable space for oneself as a parent, including waking before the household, lighting a candle, making tea, and tending her inner world before tending to everyone else.

Why boundaries are acts of love, not control, and how consistency, kindness, and clarity help children feel safe, respected, and empowered to develop their own sense of self.

The importance of co-regulation in partnership and parenting, and how choosing to remain grounded instead of reactive can de-escalate emotional storms and restore connection in moments of overwhelm.

How Holly and her husband stay aligned as parents through open communication, mutual respect, and shared values, creating a stable emotional foundation for their family.

Why screen boundaries matter deeply for mental health, including no phones at the dinner table, no phones in bedrooms, and intentional unplugging during family time and vacations to restore true connection.

Holly’s powerful STOP, DROP, GROW & GLOW framework, beginning with slowing down and self-reflection, releasing old patterns and trauma, cultivating supportive habits, and finally embodying a life of aligned self-care and presence.

Her reflections on motherhood as a sacred initiation, including releasing guilt around staying home, honoring caregiving as meaningful work, and trusting the seasons of life as they unfold.

The truth that children are some of our greatest teachers, offering wisdom, presence, and reminders to slow down, notice, and live with wonder.

Why softness is not weakness, and how strong, loving leadership in families comes from being both firm and tender, embodied and emotionally available.

This conversation is an invitation to pause, breathe, and remember what truly nourishes a family and a soul. It reminds us that presence is medicine, that boundaries create safety, and that when parents tend their own inner world, they give their children a lifelong gift of emotional resilience and love.

You can connect with Holly, explore her book Stop, Drop, Grow & Glow, receive her complimentary Peace in the Pause challenge, and learn more about her Glow Forward parenting course at www.liveyourglow.live. 

 

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About Holly:  

Holly Swenson is an award-winning and best-selling author on the rise and on a mission to bring more wellness, joy, and intentionality to parenting and beyond. In addition to being an author, she is also a BSN, RN, wellness blogger, wellness & culture commentator, the mother of four incredible sons, and a perpetual student of life. She has had the pleasure of connecting with some of the top thought leaders in the world, has been featured in magazines, USA Today, and has been featured on the news and radio.

Writing her first book Stop, Drop, Grow, & Glow, which launched in fall of 23’, was a deep calling and a way she could be of service to parents everywhere. She also has a transformative online course launching in January of 2026, called Glow Forward: Parenting with Presence and Purpose she is SO excited to unveil. Holly's ultimate aim is that her work and impact truly will help re-invigorate your journey as a mother or father and raise the bar for generations to come.

Website:
https://liveyourglow.live

Instagram URL
https://www.instagram.com/hollyswenson_liveyourglow/

Find Peace in the Pause- 7-Day Pause Challenge Guide
https://holly-swenson.mykajabi.com/opt-in-d5f43182-78af-474b-8230-6e4c55274d0e

 

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