If you’ve ever done something wrong in your relationship with your wife and she’s decided that you need to apologize, you might be wondering what she wants from you in your apology. She wants an apology that is sincere and genuine, as well as one that covers these seven key points. Here are seven things your wife deserves in your apology.
1) Accept Responsibility
Acknowledge your wrong-doing and take responsibility. Showing humility is a sign of strength and courage, not weakness.
Without this step, it will be difficult for your wife to trust you again. It’s important that she knows you’re sorry for what you did and that it won’t happen again. Be Genuine: Don’t just say the words; show her with actions how much you care about her. Allow Her Time to Heal: Reassure her that she doesn’t have to move on from this immediately but give her space and time if that’s what she needs.
2) Be Personal
It’s hard to know how to apologize when you’ve wronged someone. I’m not sure if there is a universal way of apologizing for any wrongdoing, but I do know that it’s a lot easier when you have thought about what the person you wronged deserves in their apology and you include all or most of these things.
1) Just say I’m sorry and don’t offer excuses for your actions. This is the simplest and most important thing that your spouse deserves from their apology.
3) Focus on the Future, Not the Past
When planning your apology, keep in mind that you want to focus on the future and not the past. This means talking about what can be done differently going forward, not rehashing all of the mistakes of the past. That doesn’t mean your wife is denying what happened or wants you to forget it, but it does mean she’s thinking about how you’ll do better from now on.
4) Admit Mistakes
I was wrong and I apologize. I admit that this problem is my fault and not yours. I will try harder to do better in the future. I am sorry for how things have affected you negatively, even if it was not your fault. Thank you for putting up with me when I’ve been difficult or hard to deal with. Please forgive me because it would mean a lot to me if you did.
5) Use I Statements
I want you to know how sorry I am for the hurt and pain that I caused. When I think back on what happened, it makes me sick with regret. I can’t apologize enough times or say sorry enough times. I know that doesn’t make up for anything but please know that this will never happen again. I realize now that no matter how much we love each other, we need more time apart than together in order to grow individually and as a couple.
6) Explain Why You Feel This Way
Whether you’re apologizing because you did something wrong, or apologizing because you didn’t do something right, your wife deserves to hear from you. The best apologies show that you understand how she feels and what she needs.