Has someone ever apologized to you by saying, “I’m sorry you took it that way”?
A real apology?
Not even close. That hollow apology doesn’t express remorse or show the person wronged that the apologizer “got it.” Instead, “you took it that way” blames the hurt person for how they reacted.
Fake apologizers don’t admit to wrongdoing or offer to change their behavior. Instead, they justify their words or actions by clever defenses, such as “I’m sorry I kicked you out of the apartment, but I did it for good reasons,” or “If you gave me greater freedom, I wouldn’t have needed to be dishonest.” Half-hearted apologies fall short, leaving the wronged person to work things out for him or herself.
The Power of the ...
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