048 SelfWork: The Apology. The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

Apologizing, saying “I’m sorry,” is quite difficult for many people. Yet a sincere heartfelt apology can make a world of difference in a relationship. Dr. Margaret adds to a list of good and not so good apologies that appeared in The Wall Street Journal (written by Elizabeth Bernstein), including the contingency apology, the passing the buck apology and the gaslighting apology. What follows is a discussion of why apologies are important, gender differences in apologizing and family influences in learning how to apologize.

The listener email in today’s podcast is someone with Perfectly Hidden Depression who asks the question: “If I reveal myself, and stop hiding, will it scare off my partner? Who am I if I’m not the achiever, and the one who takes care of everyone else first and foremost?”

Important links:

Dr. Jennifer Thomas’ post on gender differences in apology.

 

You can hear more about mental health and many other topics by listening to my podcast, SelfWork with Dr. Margaret Rutherford. Subscribe to my website and receive one weekly newsletter including my weekly blog post and podcast! If you’d like to join my FaceBook closed group, then click here and answer the membership questions! Welcome!

My new book entitled Perfectly Hidden Depression has arrived and you can order here! Its message is specifically for those with a struggle with strong perfectionism which acts to mask underlying emotional pain. But the many self-help techniques described can be used by everyone who chooses to begin to address emotions long hidden away that are clouding and sabotaging your current life.

And there’s a new way to send me a message! You can record by clicking below and ask your question or make a comment. You’ll have 90 seconds to do so and that time goes quickly. By recording, you’re giving SelfWork (and me) permission to use your voice on the podcast. I’ll look forward to hearing from you!