Here’s a homework assignment: think of a difficult conversation you need to have, or one that didn’t go well. This conversation could be with anyone close to you, such as a spouse, adult child, sibling, or friend. Take a moment to identify this conversation.

Studio 5 Relationship Contributor Dr. Matt Townsend shared the necessary tools you need to take on this hard conversation with confidence. He shared practices that will help you minimize conflict and increase connection.

Find more advice from Matt at matttownsend.com.

Read more here: https://studio5.ksl.com/hard-conversation-minimize-conflict-connection/

It's the celebrity headline of the week: after reuniting and getting married, Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from actor Ben Affleck. It was a different ending for pro golfer Rory McIllroy and his wife, Erica Stoll, earlier this year. After seven years of marriage, McIllroy also filed for divorce through a spokesperson saying their relationship was "irretrievably broken." Yet a month later, the couple dismissed the divorce, telling media "we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning."

With this topic of reconciliation in the headlines lately... it brings up the question of success rate among couples who do reconnect. Studio 5 Marriage & Family Contributor Dr. Liz Hale shares her professional views and experience on couples who go from broken to bonded.

The alarm clock goes off. What's next? You should have a plan, because an intentional morning leads to an intentional day!

Professional speaker and consultant Patrick Dickerson shared the significance of starting your day with intention.

Read more here: https://studio5.ksl.com/intentional-morning-productive-ways-better-routine/

Navigating high-conflict conversations is an art.

Studio 5 Relationship Contributor Dr. Matt Townsend has mastered it over his 25-year career. He shared five essential relationship principles that can help you build stronger, happier, and healthier relationships.

For more guidance, check out Matt's Becoming One program at matttownsend.com, where you can access content, weekly calls, and group coaching to further enhance your relationship skills.

Read more here: https://studio5.ksl.com/speak-less-listen-more-high-conflict-conversations/

There is a phrase floating around, a parenting style that’s getting a lot of talk and attention. It’s gentle parenting. Some disagree with it altogether... others have gone all in. Many of us are kind of squishy on what it even means, and we’re falling somewhere in between.

No matter where you lie on the gentle parenting spectrum, it’s a parenting style people are chatty about. Studio 5 Parenting Contributor Heather Johnson explained what gentle parenting is and what it is not, plus the pros and cons of practicing it.

To contact Heather for counseling, email blog.familyvolley@gmail.com, or visit www.familyvolley.blogspot.com.

Read more here: https://studio5.ksl.com/gentle-parenting-where-goes-wrong-how-do-right/

You know those girlfriends that are so easy to talk to? The kind that you could talk to for hours about everything and nothing at the same time? That's the premise behind the Studio 5 Hot Seat. We've invited friends of the show to have some quality girlfriend chatter with us, and that’s something Shara Park is great at.

Shara is a reporter and anchor, also a wife and mother. Her ambition and passion leads out in everything she does!

What we discussed:

• Gen Z’ers say flirting is dying. How did we used to flirt?
• Whether or not, in America, people are kind.
• Football season is approaching. We know our husbands are ready, but are we?

There’s an art to feeling like you are enough and that you have enough. It can be a difficult feeling to fully embrace, but it’s essential for personal contentment and growth.

Author and speaker Connie Sokol emphasized the importance of embracing an attitude of “enough.” She explained that true contentment and confidence come from knowing and accepting who you are, where you are, and what you’re doing.

Find more advice from Connie at conniesokol.com.

Read more here: https://studio5.ksl.com/get-off-people-pleasing-attitude-of-enough/

We're getting chatty on Studio 5 with good girlfriends - just for fun! Women you admire are sitting in the Studio 5 hot seat to discuss trendy, timely topics. It's the sort of conversation you would have during a girls night out.

Courtney Rich is a self-taught baker, and one of the best. It's clear by her 600,000 followers - and eager learners - on Instagram, that she's a great teacher, too! She's a wife and a mom to two, and we loved getting to chat with her.

What we discussed:

• The state of movies today
• What we should be able to do, but just can't
• What are our 'over consumptions?'