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Is Reluctance to Say “Sorry” Eroding Trust in Your Relationship?

Meitzi
3 min readNov 26, 2023
Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Is the fear of vulnerability preventing you from uttering the word that could mend what’s broken?

Yes, I am talking about the 5-letter word–sorry.

Oftentimes, I hear people casually joke that they’d prefer enduring the excruciating ordeal of a root canal than making a simple apology. It makes me wonder if there’s some sort of “Avoiding Apologies 101” course somewhere, where a dental chair seems to be more appealing. Heck, do they not know expressing remorse is a painless dental procedure as no drills required? Pun intended.

If you’re a part of Generation X or were raised by Gen X parents, you might be familiar with one of Chicago’s top hits, pleading for a girl to stay while justifying that saying sorry is simply a difficult task. The song resonated with many, as people often anticipate sympathy for the challenge of saying sorry rather than introspectively questioning why uttering this 5-letter word is so darn difficult.

One most common misconception people have about apologies is that admitting wrongdoing makes them appear weak or inferior, posing a threat to their self-esteem and ego. Indeed, saying sorry, requires a high level of emotional vulnerability.

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Meitzi
Meitzi

Written by Meitzi

Navigating an extraordinary life with simplicity. Seeking solace and peace through the art of writing. Embracing the ordinary in an extraordinary way.

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Hit the nail on the head! My husband and I are both quite stubborn and find it difficult to say sorry. He have our own means of moving on with apology but it’s hard being the one to initiate isn’t it!!