Saying sorry can be difficult because there are so many emotions involved and it’s hard for someone to admit that they’re wrong. But it’s necessary to apologize if you have done something wrong or hurt someone you care about.
Another difficult thing about saying sorry is conveying exactly how you feel, what you did, or better yet, why you did it. You’re not always going to be able to give this information to people because it’s incredibly hard to rationalize your actions in a way that shows you that you’re wrong or how they perceived it from their angle.
To overcome this difficulty, we give you 3 ways that you can apologize without saying “sorry” and show that you’re hurt and remorseful for your actions.
Steps to follow before you apologize:
There are some steps that can help lessen the regretful feeling that comes before you apologize. If your argument or actions caused a lot of pain, then there are steps to follow before you attempt to redeem yourself:
– Find the right time to talk about what happened,
– Talk calmly and privately about what happened,
– Take responsibility for your actions.
– Take responsibility for the feelings that were caused by your actions,
– Understand the other person’s perspective and pain,
– Don’t make excuses.
– Move to the next step of apologizing in one of the ways listed below or combine more than one way if you feel like it!!
How to apologize without saying sorry?
Sometimes, people need to say sorry without actually saying it. They can gift the person they are apologizing to a new item that they have been wanting to get or do something for them.
1- Asking for forgiveness with a gift:
People tend to offer gifts if they feel guilty or think their verbal apology is insufficient in providing enough reparation. While it’s true that sometimes gift-giving can be the most sincere way to apologize, most of the time it doesn’t truly solve the problem. It may help you and the other person talk again and be on good terms.
However, the problem that you would’ve disagreed on the first time would not have been solved. If it arises again or one of you is reminded of it or triggered to rehang of it then the same issue could repeat itself as long as you two didn’t solve it with good communication. Once again buying a small gift to someone that you hurt with your words and actions can be thoughtful and kind but it will not erase harsh words or irresponsible actions as long as you didn’t talk about it.
Gifts, in this case, reinforce the idea that you and the other person can talk again and that nothing is lost. This is why this type of apology could be an attempt at getting back on good terms with someone, but not being regretful about what happened that caused the problem.
Nonetheless, gift-giving is also considered one of the most common means of apology in society today. It is a way in which we show that we are sorry for what we have done by giving something that can be used or enjoyed by them.
The gift-giving process does not only act as a form of apology but also acts as an attempt to restore pride in those who have been wronged. The gift can be anything from a book, piece of clothing, or even an experience – all so that they can have a tangible reminder of your apology.
Gifting is always a nice way to apologize, but it can be expensive depending on the gift. Buying something because you’re feeling guilty might be embarrassing when you realize you’ve given the wrong present.
2- Asking for forgiveness by cooking their favorite meal:
One of the most common ways of giving an apology is by cooking for the person you have hurt. Cooking a meal for them is one way of showing that you care about them and the relationship you have with them. more importantly, it’s also a way of making sure that the person understands and forgives you by eating the food you have made.
Unlike what was initially thought, cooking does not need to be complicated or time-consuming. You can make a simple meal and show that you’re regretful in a way that’s both delicious and genuine.
If you need inspiration on what dishes that person would like, there are plenty of cooking sites out there that provide recipes and ideas for different types of cuisine. You can also ask what their favorite meal is and have a go at making that one in particular as an apology present. You could even ask them if they would like to try something new!
A meal should be a time of joy and celebration, but sometimes it can be difficult to apologize over a full plate of food. So test the waters and make sure that the person is at least responsive and still talking to you, before you can surprise them with a meal you cooked for them. Otherwise, you can find yourself in an awkward situation where they refuse to eat the food you spent energy and time on and this could complicate the situation further.
3- Apologizing with a written card:
Apologizing with a written card is an easy way to express apologies to someone you might have offended. If you’re not good at saying sorry, but want to at least show that you regret what happened, write a card instead. A simple and modest way to say sorry is by writing a note.
Cards are commonly used as a way of saying sorry for wrongdoing or an event that happened. However, there are many other things that people can use them for like birthday wishes or celebrating the birth of a new baby, etc.
There are a couple of kind gestures that you can take in order to apologize with a card. For example, you could write the note on paper and keep it somewhere safe such as under the pillow or in their car.
Written cards are presented through words that can’t be rejected or returned. They are less expensive than gifts but much more meaningful and personal too!
Apologizing with a written card can be an excellent way of making amends. It can be as simple as acknowledging someone’s hard work and thanking them for their time.
If you are going to apologize with a written card, consider writing it in your own hand or using pen and paper. Some people might not know how to react to something written on a computer or phone screen – especially when it’s from someone they don’t know well.
When it’s a physical card instead then it shows that you put some thought into it by buying the card and going of your way to write something sweet then find them and giving it to them or making it accessible to them!
Bottom line:
Apologizing is not easy for most people, but it’s good to do it when you can. It relieves any tension or awkwardness that surrounds a situation.
The first step of Apologizing is understanding what you have done wrong and what your intention was in the first place. If you are apologizing because you realize that your action hurt someone or made them upset, then these were good ways to apologize as they will help you maintain a good relationship with them. Be aware though that not all apologies are pure and innocent.
It might not be the easiest thing to do because it’s hard to stomach the fact that you were even wrong in the first place. Sometimes though, it’s good to apologize and move on even when you still think that what happened was fully your fault or that you were wrong.