4 mistakes in apologies - ask for forgiveness correctly Most people apologize formally and insincerely, which hurts relationships. Let's talk about four mistakes we make when we apologize.

1. Empty apologies.

You say, "Well, I'm sorry" or "I'm sorry" and think that's enough. Empty apologies are a shell with nothing inside.

2. Excessive apologies.

You exclaim, "I'm so sorry! I feel terrible!" An apology is necessary to correct a mistake, to resolve a disagreement, and thereby to mend a relationship. Excessive apologies are not conducive to that.

3. incomplete apologies.

You look the person in the eye and say, "I'm sorry about that." Those are better than excessive or empty apologies, but they aren't very effective either.

4 Denial

You state, "I'm sorry about that, but it wasn't my fault." Instead of sincerely admitting your fault, you get defensive and deny everything. Denial will not help you repair the relationship.