How to say sorry to the one you love

So you messed up. You made a mistake. Inadvertently, you ended up hurting the person you love. Telling someone that you are sorry — and actually meaning it — can be one of the most difficult parts of a relationship. It is also one of the most critical parts. Here are some easy steps to help you learn how to apologize sincerely and effectively.

Admit to yourself that you were wrong. 

An insincere apology is usually more trouble than no apology at all. If you can’t convince yourself that you are sorry, you probably won’t convince them. 

Be sincere.

There’s nothing worse than hearing I’m sorry and knowing the other person doesn’t mean it—they simply want to bypass whatever tension has arisen in the relationship. But a true apology is sincere and well-thought-out.

Watch your words.

Word choice is incredibly important when delivering an apology. Using the wrong words can make the entire apology come across as dismissive and insincere. When choosing your words, be as specific as possible.

Respect their feelings.

You may hope that they will immediately accept your well-crafted apology and forgive you on the spot, but hurt feelings don’t always heal so quickly. 

Demand nothing in return. 

Remember to focus on your role and on what you need to do as part of your apology. You can’t control how he will respond, or what he/she will say or do.

Consider your delivery.

Words matter, but so does body language, tone, volume and eye contact.