Life/Society
Why Letting Go of Apologies Can Enhance Your Overall Happiness
‘Say you’re sorry!’
From a very young age, we are taught that saying sorry is what you do when you have hurt or offended someone.
In many cases, not saying you’re sorry to someone is considered a worse offense than the offense for which you’re supposed to apologize.
According to Psychology Today, Robert Trivers (1985) argued that many of our politeness-related behaviors and social-emotional responses are rooted in the fact that we are a species typified by both a need to belong and be included in social circles and a long history of reciprocal altruism.
Even if you do not fully understand what you might have done to upset someone else, we are generally taught to say ‘I’m sorry’ regardless of comprehending our perceived offense, especially as children.
Perhaps the true meaning of a sincere apology has been lost on us.
It’s a plus to teach children manners and to apologize when they have physically hurt someone or said something cruel. Those are definite instances that should be followed up with an appropriate verbal apology.
