2. Accept your contribution. In all likelihood, you probably played some
part in the conflict. Acknowledge your
actions and figure out how to make
positive changes. 3. Look at it from their point of
view. When someone fails to apologize, it usually has more to do
with them than with you. They may
feel ashamed or vulnerable. When
you think about their pain, you may
feel like you have more in common. 4. Resist all-or-nothing thinking. Distinguish between the human being
and their actions. An action may be
wrong but that doesn't make the
whole human being wrong. If
someone criticizes you unfairly, list
the things you still like about him / her. 5. Release the negative energy. Venting your feelings in a diary or an
imaginary letter helps to sort things
out. You can express yourself freely
without worrying about widening the
divide. Write the letter and burn it to
release the energy from your body onto the paper and eventually into
the other. Works like magic every
single time! 6. Reach out. If someone close to you has trouble apologizing, you may
need to make an extra effort. Let
them see how you apologize and take
responsibility for your actions so they
can discover more options. 7. Feel free to define your
boundaries. On the other hand, you may decide to limit contact if the
relationship is dragging you down.
You can still have affection and
respect for someone but you may
need to keep them at a distance at
least temporarily. 8. Nurture good feelings. The more secure you feel, the easier it is to
focus on helping others rather than
judging them. You'll understand that
your future depends on your choices
rather than real or imagined insults. Forgiveness allows you to let go of
the past and free yourself from anger
and resentment. It's a decision you
can make on your own regardless of
whether others apologize or show
little remorse. And lastly, always remember -"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the
attribute of the strong." -
Mahatma Gandhi