The Power of Apology

Dating & Friendship — By 88DB Knowledge on August 8, 2012 5:28 pm

We’ve all been there – be it the one who needs to do the apologising or the one who deserves an apology. If you’re one of those who find it hard to swallow your pride and admit you’re wrong to someone important, here are 3 major reasons why you should swallow your pride:

couple

1. It Shows You Care

Be it family, friend or partner, if you really care about someone and want to keep them close, it is important to learn when to admit you are wrong and say sorry. Preferably, the sooner the better. If you let things stew for too long, the act of apologising seems even more daunting or worse still, the reason or problem that caused the argument in the first place just gets bigger than it should.

In these situations, empathy is always a good thing to keep close. Think about how you would feel if you were the injured party and no one apologised. This should make it easier for you to look your loved one in the eye and apologise.

2. It Prevents Ill Feelings

We’re all human, and when we feel wronged, it is sometimes hard to get over it. Even more so if the guilty party doesn’t fess up and make amends. Often, it festers and it is hard not to feel any ill will or have negative feelings towards that person. Allowing this to happen leads to deterioration of the relationship.

If the relationship is important and you wish to keep it, then an apology is in order when you’ve done wrong. Set aside pride and stubbornness. It is not as important as a healthy and happy relationship.

3. It Helps With Closure and Healing

Leaving an argument or misunderstanding open-ended and then pretending that nothing happened, is not the way to go. It sends mixed signals to the other party and brews distrust.

Remember that what may seem like a small matter to you, may not be so for the other party. To pretend like nothing happened is to say that you don’t care what the other person thinks or feels. When you have hurt someone, it’s best to start the ball rolling to heal the rift and work towards closure together.

Overall, apologies are important for a happy and healthy relationship. It helps the relationship thrive. Being wrong is nothing to be ashamed of, as everyone makes mistakes, but not everyone has the capability to realise and accept responsibility to grow in character.

Say sorry with flowers.

Head out for a comforting meal with your loved one.