How To Stop Saying Sorry All The Time
Have you ever had someone bump into you and yet you’re the one one who offers an automatic apology straight away, even though it wasn’t your fault? Yep, we’ve been there.
Apologising all the time is a negative habit that is very easy to develop.
Saying the word “sorry” all the time when you shouldn’t have to is very unhealthy and it can also be so draining. This has a negative impact on your mental health and therefore it is very important to be aware of the times when we apologise unnecessarily.
Here’s how to stop saying sorry all the time…
Turn a negative into a positive
Many of us say sorry when there is really no need, so the next time you catch yourself about to apologise turn this negative into a more positive expression.
Instead of apologising for being five minutes late thank people for waiting for you. When you are trying to get past someone say excuse me or “pardon me” rather than a “sorry”.
You will find that by saying sorry all the time you begin to undermine yourself and that you may feel you’re always in the wrong when you’ve done nothing.
By turning a negative into a positive you will find your confidence begin to increase, so why not give it a go?
Be aware
In order to change this unhealthy habit, you must first be aware of the change you wish to make.
Start by counting the number of times you say sorry in a given week or day or ask someone to let you know every time they hear you say the word. If this number is high then well done for noticing that a change is needed. Being aware can help you to decrease how often you apologise, especially unnecessarily.
Pause before apologising
Pause and reflect before apologising. Think about whether in this situation saying sorry is really necessary or are you saying sorry out of habit. Allow yourself to reflect on this before apologising.
Very often we apologise even when it is not our fault. We have a tendency to apologise when it is in fact another person who has made the mistake.
Take for example when someone spills your tea do you apologise for being in the wrong place at the wrong time? If the answer is yes then something has to change.
The word loses meaning
Asking yourself have you done anything wrong or have you hurt someone’s feelings will influence your next move. If the answer is no, then the apology is not necessary. Too many ‘sorrys’ makes an apology sound insincere, especially in situations where it is really needed. Stop apologising even if it is only for this very reason.
You will thank yourself for adjusting this behaviour in the long run as people will truly value your apology as it means more to them the less often you say it.
Remember it takes time to make a change. It will not happen overnight. However, a series of small steps can lead to this desired change. There is no time like the present to get started.