The Art of the Apology

Feel good about saying you’re sorry

- ALINA LARSON

I’m sorry. Two little words play a big part in our daily vocabulary. You might apologize while squeezing through a crowd or using the last of the printer paper at work. We toss off these everyday “I’m sorry’s,” but true apologies are a different story.

Even if you feel guilty for having hurt someone, you might have trouble finding the right way to express your remorse. How do you give a meaningful apology? How do you ask for one? If both parties are at fault, who should say sorry first? With these tips, you’ll find that sorry doesn’t have to be the hardest word.

Keep it real

“For the person who needs an apology, it’s a validation of their feelings,” says Beverly Engel, author of The Power of Apology. “It’s very healing. If someone admits they did something wrong, it helps us not feel leery. We can let our guard down.”