12.Saying 'sorry'

Q1 Is it important to say sorry?

Q2 In what situations do people say sorry?

Q3 Should people apologise for anything wrong they do?

Ans- I'm sure it is. Just saying 'I'm sorry' cannot undo what has been done, but often times these simple words are worth more than hundreds of excuses and explanations. I guess it's the first step to resolving any conflict provided a person understands that being sorry is the most important part of saying sorry. By offering an apology to a person you've wronged, you show that you understand you've hurt their feelings and acknowledge the person's right to feel offended. More importantly, this is the best way to show that you want to preserve your relationships and make things right again.

Q4 Why do some people hate to say sorry?

Ans- Well, the thing is that for a great many of us, 'sorry', actually, IS the hardest word. For example, some people cannot admit their mistakes because pride and stubbornness take priority over relationships. They perfectly understand what consequences their stubbornness can lead to, even so, they cannot do anything to change themselves. There are also those who don't want the other person to feel that he or she has any power over them by giving him or her the choice to accept or reject the apology, especially when their wrongdoing is not that serious.

Q5 Do you think people often say 'sorry' when they don't really mean it?

Q6 Do you think every 'sorry' is from the bottom of the heart?

Ans- Yeah, unfortunately, in many cases it's nothing more than an automatic reaction, a reflex. And people say 'sorry' just because they are used to doing so or just because it's polite to do so. I guess this happens because parents force children to say 'sorry' if children do something wrong. But this simply forces a lame, insincere 'sorry' statement without changing any behavior. Children know that if they've hurt someone, 'sorry' is what everybody expects them to say to remedy the situation. Also, some people say 'sorry' to manipulate others. For example, they know that this is what another person wants to hear. So it's just a means to end a dispute that the apologizer would prefer to avoid, often for lack of caring.