The Three Most Powerful Words

Proverbs 28:13
He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

The three most powerful phrases in the world are "I am sorry". These words do not change the fact that an offense has occurred, but it can shorten the time that the negative effects of a wrong live on. Many victims of wrongs seek a full apology, an acknwoledgement that they have been wronged and that the perpetrator is truly grieved for their offense.

In a story reported in Psychology Today Jennifer Robbennolt, a law professor at the University of Missouri, Columbia, presented some 145 people, ages 21 to 70, with variations on the same hypothetical accident scenario. When the person at fault did not apologize, 52 percent said that they would accept a cash settlement to resolve the case. If a full apology was presented, the number jumped to 73 percent. And when the person at fault offered only a partial apology, in which he did not accept fault for the collision, only 35 percent of subjects accepted the proposed settlement.

A sincere, full apology can restore relationships. We should try it more often.


For more information on the article mentioned in this blog:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200402/suing-apology