At various times in our lives, we will do something to hurt someone else, even if it’s not intentionally. When we’ve done something to hurt a friend or someone close to us, we have to make an effort to make things right again. One way to do this is to tell your friend that you’re sorry for what happened. There will be times when a simple, “I’m sorry” will be all that’s needed and there will be times where your apology needs to be more thorough. Here is how to say sorry to a friend.

Step 1

Admit that you were wrong. Accepting your actions and admitting that you were the one who did wrong will show your friend that you really are sorry for what you’ve done. You have to be willing to acknowledge that you were at fault and take responsibility for what happened.

Step 2

Be specific. Apologies are not a time to be vague or generalize. If you lied to your friend, apologize specifically for lying and for what happened as a result of you lying to them.

Step 3

Promise not to do it again. Whatever it is you did to hurt your friend, be sure not to let it happen again. If you do the same thing again then you’re not showing that you are truly sorry for your actions. Your promise not to hurt your friend again has to be backed up by your actions.

Step 4

Buy them a card or present to say you’re sorry. While you can’t always buy a person’s forgiveness or affection, sometimes a card or gift can help you to express yourself and show your friend that you’re truly apologetic and want to make things right between you again. If you damaged property or belongings of theirs, it is only right to offer some form of restitution to pay for any damages done.

Step 5

Know what to leave out of your apology. Don’t try to blame your friend for your actions even if you feel their actions may have contributed or caused some of yours. You have to consider your friend’s feelings and understand that they are hurting as a result of something that you did.

Step 6

Let your friend know how much the friendship means to you. Everyone makes mistakes but being able to admit your mistakes and apologize for them is a step in the right direction. Ask for forgiveness, be sincere in your apology, and give your friend time to deal with their own emotions and consider your apology. If your friend doesn’t accept your apology and refuses to forgive you, you don’t have to carry the burden of your wrongdoing because you apologized and tried to make things right.

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