Episode #56 Offer An Apology

The 10 most important words you could ever say: “I am sorry. I was wrong. Will you forgive me?” This week, Dr. Michael Brown and Casey Greenawalt talk about the power and importance of apologizing.

Show Notes

In relationships where the apologies are more frequent, the more trust I have for those people. Because I trust them to admit they’re wrong.
Casey Greenawalt

Three Problems

  • We tend to prioritize being right over being in relationship.
  • Our tendency is to apologize selfishly instead of selflessly.
  • Apologies lose their power if they don’t lead to change.

Three Principles

  • A genuine apology takes ownership, expresses remorse, and invites a response.
  • We ask for forgiveness not so we can feel better but so the relationship can heal.
  • Apologies are not necessary for the continuation of a relationship, but they are essential for its deepening.

Three Practices

  • If you struggle to verbalize an apology out loud and in person, consider writing it down in a letter or a note.
  • If you realize that you continually apologize for the same thing over and over, make a positive choice to fix the problem.
  • Consider the following question: “Is there anyone I really care about who has never heard me say, ‘I am sorry’?”