When to Say You’re Sorry When You’re in a Relationship

It’s common for couples to have fights over the course of their relationship. Some fights are big. Some fights can easily be resolved. In the end, they feel guilty about misunderstanding their partner’s intentions or if they unintentionally hurt them with their words.

Whatever the case is, we apologize to our partners and move on.

But there are times some men find it tough to be the first to say sorry. They assume apologizing means they’re wrong and that puts them in a vulnerable position. Because what if their partner doesn’t accept the apology?

According to an online article by Psychology Today, “males tend to take rejection as a challenge to their masculinity or an insult to their perceived place in the social hierarchy.”

So if you’re of those men who have a hard time apologizing, then here are a few instances where an apology from you is truly necessary:

When you’ve made a big mistake

Many people will agree that they should apologize to their partners when they’ve done something wrong.

But if you’re in an interracial relationship where two cultures sometimes clash, you may sometimes find yourself lost navigating through your relationship.

Your partner might be comfortable with how they do things in a certain way yet it’s the complete opposite for you. Eventually, you might end up making a big mistake — embarrassing them while you’re both out in public.

What do you do?

Apologize, of course. Respecting your partner’s culture and traditional customs is a great way to avoid misunderstandings and needless drama.

When you’ve caused your partner pain

Maybe you’ve had a bad day at work and at the worst possible time, your partner comes in to ask you how your day was. You lash out violently — whether through heated words or actions — and before leaving the room, your partner gives you a look of fear and apprehension.

Uh-oh. You know they took it personally. Now, they’re giving you the cold shoulder, or even worse, they move out of the apartment and go back to their parents.

In this case, it’s really imperative to apologize for hurting them even if it was unintentional. Remember that your partner is also an individual person with human emotions.

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When you’ve broken a promise

According to Irish writer and satirist Jonathan Swift, “promises are meant to be broken.”

But is that really true?

No. Despite how easy it is to break one, a promise is a pledge or an honest vow that what you say you’ll do — you’ll do it in the future. The foundation is based on trust and mutual agreement.

So if you decide to make a promise, check whether or not you can keep them.

Why it’s important to apologize

An apology can be a powerful healing tool. It’s liberating to both you and your partner. Even life-changing for some. It removes anger and unblocks any past grudges you might have picked up.

It helps you move forward and invites forgiveness. Tap into your empathy and remind yourself to look at the bigger picture.

Each conflict you resolve together only makes up for a stronger and healthier relationship.

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This post was previously published on medium.com.

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