An apology easily becomes the closing sentence of a conversation that had yet to be opened. We say we are sorry and expect the other person to set aside the consequences of our action. The acknowledgment brought us relief; their problem remains.
The mistake calls for a concrete response. What did we do, who did it affect and what can we fix now? Explanation of the circumstances has its place, but responsibility is seen in the action we take afterwards.
Trust is restored through subsequent agreements and their fulfillment. The injured person has the right to take time and remain cautious about our words. If an apology is followed by a demand that we be immediately believed, we are again asking that our feeling be more important than their reality.
Comments