We can’t always keep our cool and be our best selves, even with the people we love most. But it’s never late to take a step toward healing or reconciliation. No matter who the wrong person is in the case, sometimes nothing works better to amend a relationship than a sincere and proper apology. However, it can make things worse if you mess up your apology. Here are a few great tips to apologize better and more effectively.
No Rush!
Sometimes, quick apologies don’t make sense. Instead of rushing to apologize, it’s always better to listen to the other person to understand how bad they feel about your actions. It may be uncomfortable for you, but active listening will help you understand the full impact of your hurtful actions. It will also give you enough insight to make your apology more sincere, heartfelt, specific, and of course, effective.
Preparing in Advance
Not everyone communicates in the same way. So, if you want to be forgiven by someone you’ve offended, connect to them through their comfort zone, not yours. It can be over the phone, via texts, in person, or in a video medium. So, prepare your apology accordingly and in advance. It’s better to organize your thoughts first by writing your apology to get it right. While this can’t guarantee forgiveness, it’ll surely help smooth things over.
Being Detailed and Specific
Sometimes, declaring only that you’re sorry isn’t enough for the person you’ve hurt badly. So, it’s better to take the time to listen to the person about why they’ve felt hurt, and mirror that regret when you apologize to them. If there was something unavoidable on your part, explain it, and then show the ways you’re willing to repair the damage. Also, ensure the person that you’re going to take steps to avoid making the same mistake ever again.
An Apology Isn’t a Debate
Really! When you turn your apology into a debate, you’re doubting or undermining someone’s hurt feelings. And that means you’re not taking responsibility for your own mistake. We know that it’s the general impulse to defend ourselves or it’s tempting to turn an apology into a chance to rehash old objections. But the main point to apologize is to put the other person’s feelings first. So, be declarative, not ambivalent or arrogant.
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
An active solution addresses a grievance better and heals a rift quicker than a bunch of eloquent verbal regrets. If your apology doesn’t reflect in your further actions, then it’s worthless. Even the other person may question your intentions! So, if you want a way to back in, alongside carefully chosen apologetic words, offer a solution or validation to compensate for the suffering you’ve already caused.
Be Patient
Healing a relationship that’s gotten sour requires repeated attempts. So you need to be patient after you apologize. Never hold yourself back from doing your best to make amends, even when a complete reconciliation isn’t certain. And once you express your regrets, don’t expect immediate forgiveness. Instead, keep your heart open with the belief that you’ll be forgiven one day if you keep trying.
5 Timeless Books That Are Hitting the Big Screen in 2020
Some stories are everlasting. They keep us on the edge of our seats, and we can hardly fall asleep after they’re over. Well, fortunately for you, some of your favorite books will come to the big screen in 2020. Here are five you can’t miss!
1. ‘The Call of the Wild’ by Jack London
If you haven’t read the story of the California-raised dog named Buck, you need to fix that asap. Buck gets kidnapped and sold to freight haulers. The story is based in Yukon during the 1890s gold rush in Canada. Buck must learn to survive in the unwelcoming Alaskan wilderness when unexpectedly, he finds a friend. Harrison Ford plays the main character alongside a CGI version of Buck.
2. ‘The Invisible Man’ by H.G. Wells
Following years of abuse, a woman finally decides to leave her husband. And then, she is faced with a new threat — her husband dies, but an invisible presence begins to stalk and torture her, though no one else can see it. You will see Elisabeth Moss playing the lead character in this 2020 adaptation. The release date was set for February 28th.
3. ‘The Good Shepherd’ by C.S. Forester
Set to come out in May (later changed to June), the movie adaptation of the exhilarating 1955 novel will be called Greyhound. During the Battle of the Atlantic in 1942, just months after the U.S. officially entered World War II, U.S. Navy Commander Ernest Krause — portrayed by Tom Hanks — is on his first wartime assignment. He is in command of an international convoy of 37 Allied ships trying to cross the North Atlantic when a group of German U-boats attacks them. The movie adaptation of one of the most beloved wartime books promises to become a masterpiece.
4. ‘The Woman in the Window’ by A.J. Finn
This thrilling story is set to come to life in a movie by director Joe Wright with an initial release date of May 14th, 2020. The story follows agoraphobic developmental psychologist Dr. Anna Fox who — while spying on her new neighbors — witnesses a crime. It falls on her to decide what to do with that knowledge — go to the police or keep quiet. The movie will star Amy Adams, Gary Oldman, and Julianne Moore.
5. ‘Death on the Nile’ by Agatha Christie
Set for release on October 9th, 2020, this movie will tell the well-known story of a renowned detective who, while on holiday in Egypt, is recruited to solve the murder of a young heiress. She was killed aboard a cruise ship traveling along the Nile River. The 2020 adaptation will star Gal Gadot, Annette Bening, and Arnie Hammer.
Other Books Made to Movies in 2020
Among the other well-known books that will grace viewers with their movie adaptations include Emma by Jane Austen, The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting, and The Personal History of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens.