Making Amends Without All the Talk
Other ways to say you’re sorry
There’s something beautiful and generous when forgiveness happens; the honesty is pure, and the spirit opens. Forgiving others may be a way to express good boundaries without excuses, the dignity of choosing to move forward. While most of us consider these moments to come in conversation, they don’t have to be. Sometimes, speech is no good and isn’t the way.
Saying “I’m sorry” doesn’t hold much water. People often say it for the smallest things and say it with repetition; we hear it too much. The phrase may begin to feel empty, be questioned, or be skipped over due to being rote or assumed. It’s an interesting phrase which can mean so many things, yet lacks the particulars we require for proper amends.
Some of the meaningful notes to hit for an authentic amends:
- Sincerity
- Specificity
- Not about you
- Listening
Sincerity is the motivation behind the choice to make amends. It must be natural in timing and not sucker-punching the other person just because you feel it’s time to get things off your chest. The true desire to not cause further harm needs to be present and conveyed. But how do we do that?
