I’m a firm believer that actions speak louder than words. So if someone has hurt my feelings, a simplesorryisn’t always going to be enough to earn back my trust. I appreciate it, but only time (and actions) will tell if the apology was truly sincere.So if you’re looking to speed up the process of earningforgiveness, incorporating some humor into your apology might be the perfect way to do it!Below, you’ll find photos of hilarious apology notes thatBored Pandahas compiled from all over the internet. Enjoy scrolling through these silly ways to say sorry, and keep reading to find a conversation withMolly Howes, PhD, author ofA Good Apology: Four Steps to Make Things Right!This post may includeaffiliate links.
I’m a firm believer that actions speak louder than words. So if someone has hurt my feelings, a simplesorryisn’t always going to be enough to earn back my trust. I appreciate it, but only time (and actions) will tell if the apology was truly sincere.So if you’re looking to speed up the process of earningforgiveness, incorporating some humor into your apology might be the perfect way to do it!
Below, you’ll find photos of hilarious apology notes thatBored Pandahas compiled from all over the internet. Enjoy scrolling through these silly ways to say sorry, and keep reading to find a conversation withMolly Howes, PhD, author ofA Good Apology: Four Steps to Make Things Right!
This post may includeaffiliate links.
To gain more insight on the topic of apologies, we reached out toMolly Howes, PhD, author ofA Good Apology: Four Steps to Make Things Right, who was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda.When it comes to what’s required to make an effective apology, Molly says, “If you’ve screwed up or made a mistake or hurt someone, what’s most important to bear in mind is how the other person felt. Your apology should express interest in how you affected them, take responsibility for your action/inaction, make recompense or repair, and give assurance that you won’t repeat it.”
To gain more insight on the topic of apologies, we reached out toMolly Howes, PhD, author ofA Good Apology: Four Steps to Make Things Right, who was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda.
When it comes to what’s required to make an effective apology, Molly says, “If you’ve screwed up or made a mistake or hurt someone, what’s most important to bear in mind is how the other person felt. Your apology should express interest in how you affected them, take responsibility for your action/inaction, make recompense or repair, and give assurance that you won’t repeat it.”
We were also curious about common mistakes people tend to make while apologizing. “Obvious amends-making mistakes include: blaming the ‘victim,’ (I only did it because of what you said first); making excuses (There was a lot going on/ I was confused), saying ‘but’ or ‘if’ (I’m sorry but you know I didn’t mean it/ I’m sorry if you were hurt), leaving things vague (I’m sorry for what happened), and doing the same thing again,” Molly shared.
It was so thoughtful and sweet! I rarely hear the doggo, and I’m okay with dogs barking. What a wonderful pet owner. I want to set up a doggy gift bag or something for her and her dog. Any ideas?
When it comes to incorporating humor into an apology, Molly says humor can be a great way to join together or build on common understanding. But it might not always be appropriate. “I expect a common mistake is to be funny too soon, that is, before you know how the other person was actually affected and before they know that you understand,” the expert explained.“You risk hurting a second time because of insensitivity – especially if the humor attempts to minimize the harm done,” Molly continued. “Later, that same funny line could be fine. In general, it’s smart (and kind) to take your lead from the other person’s readiness.”
When it comes to incorporating humor into an apology, Molly says humor can be a great way to join together or build on common understanding. But it might not always be appropriate. “I expect a common mistake is to be funny too soon, that is, before you know how the other person was actually affected and before they know that you understand,” the expert explained.
“You risk hurting a second time because of insensitivity – especially if the humor attempts to minimize the harm done,” Molly continued. “Later, that same funny line could be fine. In general, it’s smart (and kind) to take your lead from the other person’s readiness.”
Finally, Molly left us with some wise words. “Funny apologies are often terrible as apologies but good as jokes. Serious apologies are also often terrible as apologies and aren’t even funny.”
Makingapologiescan be tough for a variety of reasons, one of which being that you’re never entitled to forgiveness. The right thing to do is fess up to a mistake and inform the other party that you feel guilty, that it won’t happen again and that you’re hoping you can move past it. But it’s up to the receiver of the apology to decide whether or not they accept it. So it’s best to be sincere when making a plea for forgiveness!According toHarvard Health Publishing, there’s an art to giving heartfelt apologies. And step one is understanding where the other person is coming from. If you’re not sure if you actually owe them an apology, be sure to consider the situation from their perspective. Would you be upset?
Makingapologiescan be tough for a variety of reasons, one of which being that you’re never entitled to forgiveness. The right thing to do is fess up to a mistake and inform the other party that you feel guilty, that it won’t happen again and that you’re hoping you can move past it. But it’s up to the receiver of the apology to decide whether or not they accept it. So it’s best to be sincere when making a plea for forgiveness!
According toHarvard Health Publishing, there’s an art to giving heartfelt apologies. And step one is understanding where the other person is coming from. If you’re not sure if you actually owe them an apology, be sure to consider the situation from their perspective. Would you be upset?
Next, it’s important to be genuine when making an apology. Even if you want to incorporate humor, because you have a closerelationshipwith the person you’re apologizing to or the situation wasn’t very dramatic, you have to mean what you’re saying. To accomplish this, the late psychiatrist Dr. Aaron Lazar believed that a great apology incorporated four elements: acknowledging the offense, explaining what happened, expressing remorse and offering to make amends.
As with anything else in life, apologies aren’t only about what you’re saying, but alsohowyou’re saying it. “I’m sorry that you feel that way,” sounds very different from “I’m so sorry that I made you feel that way.” Be sure to take responsibility for what exactly happened, and don’t use a passive voice. “Mistakes were made” is not the same as “I made a mistake.” And avoid blaming the other person for their feelings or your behavior.
Another key component of an effective apology is promising to change your behavior in the future. There’s no point in saying that you’re sorry if you plan on acting the exact same way tomorrow. Remember that apologizing is only half of the process. You also have to implement the changes that you promised and work on repairing the damaged relationship. Even if all you did was eat your pregnant wife’s last chocolate bar, you better be sure not to do it again. (And buy her more, so she has a healthy stash on hand!)
“I’m sorry you’ve walked in on me making out with your roommate three times and for making your home an uncomfortable place.♡-Hannah”
As painful as apologizing can be,researchshows that genuine apologies can actually increase empathy and forgiveness among victims. A heartfelt apology can even decrease stress levels and reduce heart rate. And while it’s important to know how to make amends effectively, it’s also wise to know whatnotto do when asking for forgiveness.Andrea Bonior, PhD writes forPsychology Todaythat one common mistake people make when asking for forgiveness is “retrying their case,” or attempting to explain why they didn’t actually do anything wrong. This is likely to only make the wound deeper.
As painful as apologizing can be,researchshows that genuine apologies can actually increase empathy and forgiveness among victims. A heartfelt apology can even decrease stress levels and reduce heart rate. And while it’s important to know how to make amends effectively, it’s also wise to know whatnotto do when asking for forgiveness.
Andrea Bonior, PhD writes forPsychology Todaythat one common mistake people make when asking for forgiveness is “retrying their case,” or attempting to explain why they didn’t actually do anything wrong. This is likely to only make the wound deeper.
While a great apology requires you to promise that your behavior will change, be careful not to promise anything that you can’t deliver. If you came home late one night and forgot to inform your partner that you would be staying out until 2am, promising that you’ll never go out with friends again just isn’t realistic. Or if you’re uncomfortable with your partner tracking your location, don’t assure them in the heat of the moment that you’ll allow them to track you all the time. Be willing to change, but don’t overpromise. Or you’ll end up issuing a whole new apology soon after the first.
See Also on Bored Panda
Dr. Bonior also notes that we can’t expect anything in return when we ask for forgiveness. If your behavior caused you to miss out on something, that opportunity is lost. You can’t simply apologize to your best friend and then expect them to give you the concert tickets they were withholding. It’s up to the other person how they want to proceed when an apology has been made. Don’t pressure them to accept it immediately.
I’m sorry that this list isn’t longer, pandas! We hope you’re enjoying scrolling through these hilarious apologies, and please, keep upvoting the ones that you would happily accept. Then, if you’re interested in checking out another Bored Panda article that touches on the importance of taking accountability for our actions, we recommend readingthis piecenext!
“Hey, I stole this stuff when I was blacked out at your party. I’m really sorry guys…”
Understanding the complexities of human apologies can be likened to managing instinctual behaviors in pets.Much like how words alone might not suffice in mending human relationships, recognizing a dog’s natural instincts, like those detailed in the importance ofrecognizing and managing pet behaviors, is crucial for pet owners. Just as sincere apologies others' feelings can strengthen bonds, addressing your dog’s needs sincerely can foster a deeper connection.
Understanding the complexities of human apologies can be likened to managing instinctual behaviors in pets.
Much like how words alone might not suffice in mending human relationships, recognizing a dog’s natural instincts, like those detailed in the importance ofrecognizing and managing pet behaviors, is crucial for pet owners. Just as sincere apologies others' feelings can strengthen bonds, addressing your dog’s needs sincerely can foster a deeper connection.
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