Apologizing to those we have hurt or harmed isn’t always an easy task. There can be various obstacles in our way of doing what is right. Some are: A) A matter of pride: . . . To apologize is to set aside our pride long enough to admit our imperfections. For some people, this feels far too vulnerable, too dangerous . It means they have to admit they are flawed and fallible, something they refuse to do. And apologizing also overrides our tendency to make excuses or blame others . This acceptance of responsibility for our own actions is so out of character for some that it is nearly impossible. B) A sign of weakness: . . . To many, apologizing reflects weakness. These people have a tendency to need to be right and to always be seen as strong and powerful. But the truth is, apologizing for the harm you caused and taking responsibility for your mistakes can actually be seen as a sign of strength. For example, General Mark Milley recently apologized for appearing in a photo-
A Compendium of Concepts