Apology is one of the few things that research shos actually facilitates forgiveness. A sincere apology says, i did wrong and my wrong led to your set. And if i can, i will make amends. We add to that in terms of the forgiveness piece. It not only would it be nice to make amends, but it will be good if i can undergo atever processes so i'm less likely to do it again.
In relationships between imperfect people, mistakes are inevitable. And when we find ourselves with damaged connections, it’s a specific kind of communication that can help us make amends.
Fred Luskin is the Director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Project, and has devoted much of his career to researching the way forgiveness affects our psychological, relational, and physical health.
“Apology is one of the few things that research shows actually facilitates forgiveness,” Luskin explains. In this Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast with host and strategic communication lecturer Matt Abrahams, Luskin outlines what it means to truly say we’re sorry.
Connect: