Admitting you’re wrong could save your relationship

How admitting you’re wrong could save your relationship

We all make mistakes, so why is it so difficult to admit when we are wrong? Is it purely ego that forces us to dig in our heels even when we know we have been mistaken? Wherever the need to be right coming from, it can wreak havoc on relationships. When someone refuses to admit to their lapses, it can create a non-trusting and hostile environment.

When you have made a mistake, you need to ask yourself if the relationship is as valuable to you as being correct, even when you are wrong. It’s unhealthy to see your relationship as a competition of who is right most often. This type of attitude suggests an unbalanced union rife with resentments and dishonesty.

There are dozens of scenarios that may make you want to resist the urge to apologise. You may feel that you were in the right but have caused hurt feelings or in a situation when your husband defends another woman, injuring your self-esteem. Whatever the circumstances, you must consider compromise, apology, and humility. Let’s take a closer look at a few ways that admitting you are wrong can save your relationship.

Act With Humility

If you attempt to apologise with an attitude, it will not likely be received with forgiveness. The key to a genuine apology is to do it with humility and grace. The manner in which you approach your apology will have a considerable effect on how it is received.

With an apology delivered with humility, you will be able to walk away with a bit more dignity and avoid future conflicts. For example, an insincere apology may be questioned in the future because it wasn’t given with the appropriate humility that showed that you are truly sorry for your actions.

Admit Your Mistakes to Yourself

Admitting that you were wrong only to eliminate tension or reestablish communication will not be good enough in the long run. The most important part of an honest apology is admitting to yourself that you have acted wrongly. Working on self-reflection and learning from our mistakes by acknowledging when we are wrong is the only way to grow as a person and build solid relationships.

Ditch the Excuses

Attempting to justify your wrongful actions negates the power of your apology. Take responsibility and assure the person that you have wronged that you are sincerely trying to correct your behaviour. Blaming others for your actions will only create more problems and resentment.

Ask for Forgiveness

Asking for forgiveness from the person you have wronged doesn’t mean your behaviour will be excused entirely. Asking for forgiveness puts the person that you have hurt in the control position. It is up to them whether or not they are prepared to continue the relationship or not based on your previous history and the earnestness of your apology.

Forgiveness isn’t something that happens right away. You will need to be prepared to put in the effort to earn forgiveness and make appropriate changes to your behavior to avoid future wrongs.

If your relationship is essential to you, it’s worth admitting when you are wrong. No one likes to be on the side of the wrong, but it’s a reality in many relationships. Prioritizing your relationship over your ego, showing humility, asking for forgiveness, and practising self-reflection are effective ways of successfully admitting when you are wrong to save your relationship.