Sorry...Needn't Be The Hardest Word

Forgiveness is the balm that brings healing and love. Apologise right, suggests Salome Mitter

As a kid, your mama probably taught it to you as one of the ‘magic words’. You learnt to say sorry when you accidentally broke that coffee cup, or intentionally hit your sibling! And then we grew up and decided we really didn’t need to use it much anymore. That apologising made us too vulnerable, and heck, we were in the right most of the time anyway! Years on, we realise that we might just be completely off the mark… A marriage without this magic word is a sorry one, indeed. Since mama’s advice is considered so yesteryears, it’s up to scientific studies to inform us that apologising to your spouse and asking for forgiveness are crucial ingredients in a successful marriage. It helps validate partners’ feelings, promotes forgiveness, and allows a couple to move on from mistakes. The finger-pointing and blame-game can go on endlessly; it’s when we stop, humble ourselves and confess to the words or behaviour that have caused our partner pain or harm, that a marriage can heal and grow in strength. The capacity to ask for and give forgiveness is one of the most important factors that contributes to marital satisfaction and love.