How to Coach Yourself and Others Beware of Manipulation | Page 143

The five languages of apology
Source: http://conscious-manager.com/five-languages-of-apology.html
What most people want to know when you apologize is “are you sincere?” However, they judge your
sincerity by whether or not you are speaking your apology in their primary apology language. When
you do then they sense your real sincerity. When couples/friends/ etc learn to apologize in a way that is
meaningful to each other, they make forgiveness much easier.
1. Expressing regret:
Tthis apology language is an emotional language – it seeks to express to the other person that you feel
pain that with your words or behavior you hurt them deeply. If the person you are apologizing to has
this language what they want to know is: “Do you understand how deeply your behavior has hurt me?”
Anything less will seem empty to them. You need to say you are sorry and what specifically you are
sorry for.
2. Accepting responsibility:
This apology begins with the words “I was wrong” and goes on to explain what was wrong with your
behavior. If the person you apologize to has this apology language they are waiting to hear you admit
that your behavior was wrong. For them saying “I’m sorry” will never sound like an apology. They
want you to accept responsibility for what you did or said and acknowledge that it was wrong.
3. Making restitution:
This apology language seeks to “make it right.” If this is the persons primary apology language what
they really want to know is “do you still love me?” Your behavior seemed so unloving to them that
they wonder how you could love them and do what you did. What they request of you to make up for
your mistake etc., will likely be in tune with their primary love language e.g. if their primary love
language is physical touch they may simply ask for a hug.
4. Genuinely expressing the desire to change your behavior:
This apology seeks to come up with a plan to keep the bad behavior from reoccurring. When this is the
persons primary apology language, if your apology does not include a desire to change your behavior,
you have not truly apologized. Whatever else you say, they do not see it as being sincere. In their
minds if you are really apologizing, you will seek to change your behavior.
5. Requesting forgiveness:
The words “will you please forgive me?” are music to the ears of the person whose primary apology
language is this one. In their mind if you are sincere, you will ask them to forgive you. You have hurt
them deeply and they want to know, “do you want to be forgiven?” “Do you want to remove the barrier
that your behavior has caused?” Requesting forgiveness is the way to touch their heart and is the way
that feels sincere to them.

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