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5 Effective Ways To Say Sorry

A Step-By-Step Guide To Saying Sorry

Apologizing isn't an easy thing to do. If you've never been taught how to apologize, it makes the task even harder. Sometimes, simply saying the words "I'm sorry" doesn't adequately communicate your regret for having done something hurtful.

Discover the five best ways to say sorry effectively, from being specific in expressing regret to making amends and more. See what's helping people apologize with greater ease. Learn how you can benefit from those same advantages.

1Be Specific In Expressing Regret

Express regret by saying, "I'm sorry for..." Be specific in expressing yourself. What are you sorry for?

This isn't merely a way to say that you're sorry that you got caught but instead that you're sorry you hurt another person. Your intent perhaps wasn't even to hurt someone, but it happened anyway. Expressing your regret can ease the hurt.

2Take Responsibility For What You've Done

Accept responsibility by saying, "I was wrong." It's important to accept responsibility for what you've done. If you can't take responsibility, it will be hard for people to forgive you.

Don't try to shove the blame off on someone else. Admit that you're the guilty party. Tell the person that what you did was wrong.

3Try To Make Amends

Make amends by asking, "What can I do to fix this?" After you've expressed regret and accepted responsibility, it's essential that you do what you can to make amends. If you want to re-establish trust with the person that you hurt, making restitution is vital.

4Express Genuine Repentance

You can do this by promising, "I'll do my best never to do this again." You may regret having done what you did. And that's good.

However, it's crucial that you don't repeat the offense in the future. The old saying goes, "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me." It's harder to forgive someone who's done the same thing for a second time.

5Request For Forgiveness

Do this by asking, "Will you please forgive me?" Be sure to ask the person you've offended to forgive you. Neither of you will be able to let this go, put it in the past, and move forward if there isn't true forgiveness on the one part and true repentance on the other.

If you follow these steps, does this mean that the person you hurt will always forgive you? There's no guarantee. Depending on what caused the pain, it may take them a little while to get to the point of forgiveness.

Your chances of forgiveness when you give a sincere apology are much greater than if you merely gloss over it with a curt "I'm sorry." This will help you reconnect with someone important to you. It will also strengthen the trust between you and that person.

This is always a good thing for your relationship. Learning these top five ways to apologize will give you an important skill that you can use to improve your relationships. Use them sincerely and enjoy the benefits!



About Author

John Quintana

John Quintana is a proud Cuban, a lifelong resident of Miami, Florida, where he lives surrounded by a loving family. When he's not writing, he spends his time either fishing or in the kitchen.