Do you say SORRY?

Do you say ‘Sorry’ when you’ve upset someone or made a mistake or are you quick to defend yourself no matter how big or small that mistake was? In todays world it seems to be ingrained in us that you don’t say sorry, you don’t admit when something is your fault because it may come with consequences and that it is best to cover your ass than admit you were at fault. But it seems we have become so good at not admitting something was our fault and having endless excuses that it has boiled over into some of our personal lives and instead of simply saying sorry and apologising when we hurt someone’s feelings or make a mistake we defend ourselves despite knowing we are wrong even if it means making the situation worse.

This is something I have noticed in some of the people around me lately and although I am guilty of it myself, I am now aware of it and when an incident occurs that is my fault I try to admit it and the situation generally diffuses quickly. Sometimes an honest sorry is all it takes to end an argument or prevent one from even starting. There is nothing more frustrating than someone trying to convince you something wasn’t their fault when you know very well that it was, especially when it is something simple and you can’t understand why it is so important to them not to be wrong?

An example of this is asking someone to complete a simple task such as loading the dishwasher and after you ask they get distracted and it doesn’t get done. If when you asked them why they hadn’t done it they simply said “sorry I got distracted, I’ll do it now” you would generally be fine with it, but if the answer is an excuse in a snappy voice as though you have offended them in some way it can cause an argument which started with something so simple and could have been avoided with one little word ‘Sorry’.

Next time you make a mistake or do something wrong and start to defend what you’ve done ask yourself “is this really worth making a big deal out of or would a simple apology admitting my mistake make this situation disappear?” I think honest Sorry’s would stop a lot of arguments from escalating or even starting in the first place and if you are happy to admit when you are in the wrong people around you tend to notice and start being more honest about their mistakes with you.

It may seem like a simple word but Sorry means feeling regret and sympathy which is why when it is used honestly it can make such a big difference.