Download Article
Download Article
If you have recently had an argument or wronged someone in any way, apologizing can be difficult. What can be even tougher is saying you're sorry to someone who is unreceptive to the words. Whether you delivered the perfect “I'm sorry” or if it still needs a bit of work, you can work on reacting when your apology isn't accepted by remaining calm, apologizing a second time, and then moving forward.
Steps
-
Keep your facial expressions neutral, but genuine. When apologizing, you are likely being very honest and humble. When that apology is not accepted, it might make you angry, causing your face to tense up or perhaps even turn red. Work to remain as calm as possible. Though it is okay to cry or to express sadness, do not beg, plead, or yell. Be genuine with what you are feeling, but do not let your apology be overcome with negative emotional outbursts.
- For instance, perhaps your boss rolls his eyes while you are apologizing for missing a deadline. Instead of furrowing your brows or rolling your eyes too, avoid over-the-top facial expressions, and continue with your sincere apology.
- Before delivering the apology, practice some self-soothing techniques so that you can be at peace. Consider meditating beforehand or saying a quick prayer.
-
Take a deep breath. When your apology is rejected, take a deep breath in through your nose and exhale slowly through your mouth. Do so until you feel calm and ready to either reopen the discussion or walk away. [1] X Trustworthy Source HelpGuide Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Go to source
- For instance, if your friend refuses your apology, you can practice deep breathing so that you don't react negatively to them. No need to breathe loudly as this can be perceived as aggressive. Make your breaths slow and steady.
Advertisement -
Avoid the defensive. Though your feelings are likely hurt, avoid being defensive. Do not insult them just because they did not accept your apology; this will only make matters worse. If you can think of nothing positive to say, simply say “okay” and walk away.
- Avoid making comments like “Well, I didn't care if you accepted my apology, anyway” or “You were never a good friend to me.” Now is not the time for bickering. Try to accept the other person's response, even if it is not the one you want to hear.
-
Analyze possible solutions. In the moment, perhaps an apology is not the best way to mend an issue. Consider whether or not there are any fixes that you can employ. You can even try asking them if there is anything that you can do to fix the situation. Show that you're taking responsibility for your actions by thinking about ways in which you can correct your mistake in addition to or instead of an apology. [2] X Research source
- For instance, if you knock someone's ice cream from their hand and say “sorry,” this might not be accepted. However, if you buy them a new ice cream, the issue can be quickly resolved.
-
Put yourself in their shoes. Before reacting negatively to having your apology rejected, take a moment to consider things from their perspective. Perhaps their refusal has nothing to do with you and is more about them having a bad day in general. Reflect on any observations that you've had of them that day that could indicate that other factors are at hand. [3] X Research source
- Perhaps you accidentally made an error on a project and your coworker is upset. However, if earlier in the day, your boss yelled at them, this could be at the core of their bad mood.
- Remember, sometimes the other person might have had bad experiences in the past that hurt them. That could be a factor in why they don't accept your apology, even if what you did seems minor to you. [4]
X
Expert Source
Lena Dicken, Psy.D
Clinical Psychologist Expert Interview. 15 December 2020. - Reconnect with them at a later time when they are in a better mood. There could be a number of reasons that they are not accepting your apology. Try not to take it personally, and come back later when things have cooled down.
-
Take a break. Sometimes, an apology has to happen at the right time in order for it to be well received. Now could be a bad time for the two of you. Let them know that you are going to step away from the situation for a bit, but that you will be speaking to them soon. [5] X Research source
- Say something like “Hey, why don't we both take a few minutes and then reconnect later? I would really like to continue talking but want to clear my head for a bit.”
Advertisement
-
Summarize what you did. When you reapproach them to offer a second apology, start by summarizing exactly what you did wrong. This will ensure that the two of you are on the same page and will help to fully clear the air. [6] X Research source
- Say something like “Gia, I apologize for yelling at you the other day. I was angry and that is no excuse. I should never have raised my voice at you; I was completely out of line.”
-
Ask for clarification. After apologizing, make sure that there is nothing else that you have done that needs to be discussed. Your perception of the issue could be entirely different from theirs. For instance, you might think someone is mad because you yelled, but they really might be upset because you walked away from them afterwards when trying to speak to you. [7] X Research source
- Say “Was there anything else that I did that bothered you? If so, I'd like for us to talk about it.”
-
Listen. Once you have spoken, give them time to speak. Truly listen to them; do not interrupt them or plan out your responses in your head while they are speaking. Try summarizing back what they have said to you to make sure they feel heard. [8] X Research source
- For instance, you might say “So, it sounds like you're saying that I really bothered you when I cut you off in the meeting the other day because it made you feel unimportant. I'm sorry for that and I want you to know that I value all of your contributions to our team.”
-
Take responsibility for what you did. Never say things like “Well, I'm sorry for yelling BUT you made me mad.” Give your apology and leave it at that, with no exceptions or disclaimers. A half apology is no apology at all. Be open, honest, and genuine as well and don't preplan your words, but do some self reflection beforehand so you'll be ready. [9] X Trustworthy Source Greater Good Magazine Journal published by UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, which uses scientific research to promote happier living Go to source
-
Address your own concerns. After you have both spoken at length about your own missteps, take some time to discuss any issues that you may have had with them. Do not make up and issue or bring up something that was resolved from the past in order to make yourself feel better; only bring real concerns to the table for discussion. Try to avoid blaming them or being defensive. Simply explain your perspective. [10] X Research source
- You might say something like “I am truly sorry for what I said to you, Brian. Sometimes, though, you try to one-up me. Or you brag about how much money you have when you know I'm going through a tough time, so that makes me feel like you're trying to make me jealous.”
- Use "I" statements to describe how you feel. For example, "I feel like sometimes I am not heard," is less combative than, "You never listen to me."
Advertisement
-
Make a plan to avoid future hurt. After having a candid conversation, develop a plan, either together or separately, to avoid these problems. For instance, if they were mad at you for interrupting them in a meeting, then put forth an effort to be more patient and to be a better listener. [11] X Research source
-
Give them space. The person you have wronged might need a bit of time to reflect on what happened as well as the apology. Give them that time. Don't blow their phone up continuing to ask for forgiveness; remember that you have already done that. You can check in every few days, if you haven't heard from them, but after a few weeks, avoid always being the first to reach out. [12] X Research source
- Try saying something like, "I know you're still upset with me. I just want you to know that when you're ready to talk, I'm ready to listen, and I apologize again." [13]
X
Expert Source
Lena Dicken, Psy.D
Clinical Psychologist Expert Interview. 15 December 2020.
- Try saying something like, "I know you're still upset with me. I just want you to know that when you're ready to talk, I'm ready to listen, and I apologize again." [13]
X
Expert Source
Lena Dicken, Psy.D
-
Don't burn bridges. Don't badmouth them or gossip about them to others, especially if you are coworkers. Be cordial when you see them and greet them with a “hello” and a smile. Though you might not be friends, you never know if you will need them in the future, so don't add any more problems to your dynamic.
-
Move on. At the end of the day, some people are simply unwilling to forgive, and they have that right. Avoid dwelling on the issue, especially if you have done what you can to make amends. Work to avoid making the same mistakes in the future and to create strong friendships and working relationships with others.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Search
-
QuestionI badmouthed my friend and asked him to forgive me, but he says it's hard to be my friend now that I did that. What should I do?Paul Chernyak is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Chicago. He graduated from the American School of Professional Psychology in 2011.You need to regain your friend's trust again through your actions instead of words. Treat your friend with respect and avoid badmouthing others in the future in addition to your friend. This will help show that you are trustworthy.
-
QuestionWhat can I do if I hurt her so badly that she doesn't want to talk to me, but I want her in my life?Paul Chernyak is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Chicago. He graduated from the American School of Professional Psychology in 2011.Try asking directly if there is anything you can do to make it up to her. Be genuine about it. She may need time to recover as well so be sure to give her space. Ultimately, you may just have to accept her decision and move on.
-
QuestionWhat do you do if an apology is not accepted?Dr. Lena Dicken is a Clinical Psychologist based in Santa Monica, California. With over eight years of experience, Dr. Dicken specializes in therapy for anxiety, depression, life transitions, and relationship difficulties. She utilizes an integrative approach combining Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioral, and Mindfulness-based therapies. Dr. Dicken holds a BS in Integrative Medicine from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, an MA in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University Los Angeles, and a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D) in Clinical Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Westwood. Dr. Dicken’s work has been featured in GOOP, The Chalkboard Magazine, and in numerous other articles and podcasts. She is a licensed psychologist with the state of California.There's no one-size-fits-all answer because it completely depends on what the apology is about. However, you can say something like, "I understand you're still upset with me and that I've hurt you deeply. I just want to let you know that I want our relationship to continue, and when you're ready to talk, I'm ready to listen. And I apologize again." That way, they'll know that you aren't going to just turn your back because they haven't forgiven you yet.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Tips
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
References
- ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/emotional-intelligence-toolkit.htm
- ↑ https://au.reachout.com/articles/how-to-say-sorry-and-mean-it
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/apologies.html
- ↑ Lena Dicken, Psy.D. Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview. 15 December 2020.
- ↑ https://psychcentral.com/lib/what-to-do-when-im-sorry-doesnt-work/
- ↑ https://www.relationshipsnsw.org.au/how-to-apologise-the-right-way/
- ↑ https://psychcentral.com/lib/what-to-do-when-im-sorry-doesnt-work/
- ↑ https://psychcentral.com/lib/what-to-do-when-im-sorry-doesnt-work/
- ↑ https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_three_parts_of_an_effective_apology
- ↑ https://www.relationshipsnsw.org.au/how-to-apologise-the-right-way/
- ↑ https://www.relationshipsnsw.org.au/how-to-apologise-the-right-way/
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/apologies.html
- ↑ Lena Dicken, Psy.D. Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview. 15 December 2020.
About This Article
Article Summary
X
It’s easy to get upset when your apology isn’t accepted, but try to stay calm by taking a deep breath. Avoid becoming defensive or insulting the person. Instead, simply say “okay” and walk away. Then, take a moment to calm down and put yourself in the other person’s shoes to understand why they reacted badly to the apology. Once some time has passed, you can try apologizing again. Make sure to tell them what it is you did wrong, if you didn’t the first time, so both of you are on the same page. To learn how to move forward after an unaccepted apology, read on.
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 355,660 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "I had a disagreement with a house tenant and when I apologized, he was not able to accept my apologies. So, I left it there but later I had a feeling to write a letter to him and apologize again and also tell him it's okay if he doesn't accept my sorry." ..." more
Advertisement
"I had a disagreement with a house tenant and when I apologized, he was not able to accept my apologies. So, I left it there but later I had a feeling to write a letter to him and apologize again and also tell him it's okay if he doesn't accept my sorry."
..."
more
"The most helpful tip was the point that says apologize for the second time and how to go about it."
"The way I gave him some space and how he sincerely apologized when we were both calm."
"I love this article. Really helpful. A boost to my confidence. Thank you very much."
