How to Accept An Apology

One of the first steps toward forgiveness is accepting an apology. It can be somewhat difficult spending on the situation and the person involved. However if you want to give that person a second chance, here are a few steps to take towards forgiving the person mistakes.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Reconcile your differences. If you could not see eye to eye with someone and the result ends up having a falling out with a friend, lover, parent, boss or whoever-- they want to let bygones be bygones, give them a benefit of the doubt to explain themselves. If the differences are too great, at least let them know you hold no hard feelings for them despite their actions.
2. Forgive. At one point in our lives we had to forgive somebody. Whether the offense were minor or greatly impacted our lives, it can reshape our opinion of the person who is 'apologetic'. If the person wants to make amends for the hurt they'd caused, forgiving them can lift the heavy weigh you'd been carrying around in your heart.
3. Accept responsibility for their behavior. So the offender does whatever they can to win your heart or stay on your good side again. Small gifts, gestures, compliments, etc. If their actions seem sincere and they realize their error to make the same mistake again, take it that they mean well and they would like to start over anew with the relationship.
4. Apologize through a letter. So you feel there is nothing left to say and you simply refuse to have a conversation with the offender-- instead they write to you in a letter. Analyze what is written and try to figure out if the offender reconginze their own faults and truly want to explain themselves for the hurt, pain, embarrassment or whatever they'd caused, thank them for their time to write down their thoughts and you will see what will happened.

Tips & Warnings

• Look carefully at the person that is apologizing--you can tell if their remorse is genuine or blowing full of smoke. Is they making direct eye contact? Is their facial expression is serious? How about their tone of voice?
• Give yourself time if you can not accept their apology right away. If the person understands, they will wait for your decision.
• Do not accept an apology from a person that repeat the same offense over and over. No matter what they tell you it holds no weight. For these types it will take more than a apology to show.