I'm Sorry Doesn't Include 'But'.

Happy Sunday! It’s one of my favorite days of the week because it’s one of the rare days that everyone in my family is together and it almost always includes us sitting down for dinner together.  

Do you have a ritual of connection in your relationship? They’re so important because they allow for you to turn towards each other in a regular and counted on upon way. You can have them within your partnership and your family. And wow do they ground you when life seems to be swirling around.

And yet when there’s disconnection in your relationship, rituals of connection often get neglected or become more sporadic.

One of the most important ways you circle back to each other after distance is through repairs.  A repair is simply any statement or action that is meant to decrease negativity between the two of you.

Repairs take practice and over time, they become easier to do and you become more successful in moving forward from disconnection in your relationship. But there’s a few key pieces to a successful repair…..so are you ready for the relationship tip this week? 

Tip #2: I’m sorry doesn’t include “but”. Say you’re sorry without justifying your actions.

If I’m being honest, this one is tough for me. I have worked REALLY hard over the years to learn how to ask for forgiveness without justifying why I “had” to do what I did based on what my husband “made me feel”.  Right? Please tell me you’ve been there too.

The truth is, you are in control of our choices and when you say “I’m sorry” it should not include a but, justification or an excuse. If it does, it basically takes away the repair you’re attempting to make.

Need a reminder to practice this?  Use this meme as your wallpaper for the week. Believe me, practicing this is a game changer! 

Want to learn more about apologies? Check out this blog on Saying I’m Sorry vs. Asking for Forgiveness, it’s a good read.

Keep up the intentional work in love…all your combined effort makes it worth it.

Until next week…

Warmly,

A