How to Accept an Apology? | How To Learn To Forgive? Why Is It Important?

How to Accept an Apology: We all are human beings, and we all make mistakes. Everyone makes blunders and needs to feel sorry and apologize for the mistake committed. Have you ever been sorry for the deeds you have done? Our guilt-conscious mind helps us realize that we have committed a mistake, and we need to be sorry for that. Saying sorry can be challenging, but I think accepting an apology is tougher. Forgiving someone needs a great heart that has the power to let go. Accepting an apology can be like a reward for the one who has committed a mistake. Thus, a person who is apologizing must apologize wholeheartedly so that the apology is accepted.

How To Accept An Apology?

Don’t you think it takes a lot of courage to own and accept your mistake? Yes, it is true. The person receiving the apology also is in a situation that decides whether he must forgive or behave in the same manner. But, it is essential to accept the apology gracefully, and the recipient must handle the situation well.

Few Steps To Follow While Accepting The Apology

  • Hear what the person has to say: sometimes, just by hearing, things get clear. Let the person who is guilty speak up his mind. The recipient must listen patiently and never interrupt in between. This makes the person feel awkward, and he/she will not feel free to express himself. The person guilty must know one thing for clear evidence: if the recipient hears patiently, that does not mean that things between them are sought. It depends on the recipient whether he needs time or things are expected as before.
  • Keep a note on the tone and body language: the tone and body language speak a lot about the person apologizing. Therefore, if the person is not serious about what they are saying, then think about it. If the person saying sorry does not mean what he says and shows the attitude, then do not accept the apology.
  • Do not accept the apology immediately; take your time: if the mistake is serious, then it is essential not to accept it immediately. This will make the person feel that things are normal and he can behave as he wants to. Instead, tell him clearly that the fight has hit me hard, and I need my time to think about everything. Saying “I will get back to you in a short time” or “will think and let you know” is better than ignoring the person on his face.
  • If making mistakes has become a regular pattern, then put an end to it by responding: It is better to say things right on the face so that mistakes do not get repeated. You need not be harsh; instead, in a friendly way, tell him that I am not comfortable with the regular mistakes and things will not be the same from now. It is better if we maintain distance.

Different Ways To Respond To An Apology

Apologies in a relationship must often happen so that the relationship can sustain for long. Being sorry for what you have done must come from within. No one must push you to say sorry neither must you accept an apology when someone tells you to. Just saying it’s okay shows that you want to finish the fight and resolve with the person. You must remember that hurting someone is not okay, and the only way you can get through this situation is by saying sorry. The person to whom you are sorry must accept your apology. There are three ways one can respond to your apology.

  • I accept your apology – Saying this means that you acknowledge that the person is guilty and is coming face to face to say sorry. The person to whom you are sorry knows it is hard for you to say sorry, but still, it is accepted if you are making efforts to do that.
  • I hear you: When the apology does not feel sincere and is being listened to, it is not making the person agree wholeheartedly. When the person does not wants to patch up, then they say, I hear you.
  • I accept your apology and appreciate it: The person to whom the apology is being given is ready to take it as they know it is a genuine apology and one is ready to understand the situation. This is usually done in the case where you do not want to lose the person and want to be in a relationship as the person matters.

When the mistake is not that serious, then there are a few phrases that work well

  • It’s okay, no issues.
  • No problem, forget it.
  • No worries
  • Please don’t mention it

When the mistake is serious, the common phrases that can be used is:-

  • Don’t do it again; I forgive you
  • you should be sorry for what you did, but now it’s okay.
  • I am hurt, but I forgive you.

When the fight hurts someone, these phrases are used, but the person involved is more important than the fight. Thus, to ensure that the mistake will not be repeated, these phrases are used. Trusting someone after committing a mistake is tough, but do not let your ego and attitude come in between. Listen to the person apologizing and then decide as everyone must get a chance to be forgiven for their mistakes.

Accept an Apology

What Must One Include In An Apology To Make It Worth Listening To?

  • In an apology, including the problem as to why the situation occurs. Give its explanation.
  • The apology needs to be sincere, and there has to be regret in the tone.
  • Lastly, there has to be a promise in the apology saying I will not repeat it.

None of the rules of writing an apology are written anywhere. But you need to consider whether the apology is sincere or not. The approach of the person who is giving the apology must be regarded as. The intuition of a person also helps one tell if the apology is genuine and heartfelt.

Why Is An Apology Of So Much Importance?

An apology is significant in official relationships. For example, if you are working in an office and have made a blunder mistake in your work. In this situation, you need to say sorry immediately so that no legal action is not taken. The bosses always need an apology, and subordinates fear saying sorry, which becomes awkward for them. But hearing sorry in this situation becomes the main motive of the boss. In this situation, the person who is apologizing often does not mean sorry but has to say it to stay safe and protect his job.

If you are in a good relationship with your best friend and you have made a mistake. You can accept your mistake and in this situation, hearing sorry is not that essential. But the friend who has made a mistake can, of course, come up to the other friend and apologize for the mistake done as it will be heartfelt. Friends know that the fight is not that important, but the long friendship is essential. Between friends asking for a sorry, and saying sorry is much easier than a boss and junior relationship.

The body language, the tone, and the intentions of the person apologizing are clear while apologizing. Thus we can say, the situation and the cause determine the depth of an apology.

How To Learn To Forgive? Why Is It Important?

Don’t you think you can bond again with a person if you learn to forgive? Sometimes, the person in a fight with you is much more important than the words or gestures used in a fight. Thus, to resolve a fight, it is essential to feel sorry and, most importantly, say sorry. There are simple ways of saying sorry like I am sorry, I will not do it again. When you accept what the other person says, say no worries, it’s okay, or say you should be sorry, but don’t repeat it. This usually is said when the situation is serious. You can answer formally by saying that an apology is accepted to end things.

Conclusion on How to Accept an Apology

Apologizing to someone is a very thoughtful act as it is not easy to apologize. the one who realizes their mistake can only apologize. It is an awkward situation for many, and many don’t want to apologize as they are nor sorry from within. But to start fresh is the best rather than taking the burden of hurting someone in the heart. It is always better to apologize. the person who accepts the apology is greater than the person who apologizes as he becomes the forgiver. If you are in a situation in which you are not ready to forgive the wrong person, it is better to let him know that things will be clear with time, and you will accept the apology.