I like to be WRONG and look forward to being SORRY

Can you recall the last time you were wrong? Can you pinpoint the last instance when you said sorry?

These two questions are significant. Being wrong and sorry are essential components of a healthy relationship with yourself and others. We, as humans, are far from infallible — we’re not robots, nor are we AI. We’re imperfect beings who make mistakes and need to take accountability for them.

Being ‘wrong’ and ‘sorry’ should be regular occurrences in our lives, ideally happening every week. This practice signifies that we maintain a healthy relationship with our egos and that we trust those in our lives not to weaponise our mistakes and apologies against us*.

Refusing to embrace being ‘wrong’ and ‘sorry’ leads to a struggle of egos, where both parties vie for control over the narrative. When egos dominate, individuals tend to overlook the impact of their behaviour on others, making conflict resolution a more challenging endeavour.

Regularly taking ownership of our actions and acknowledging our mistakes is integral to fostering trust and respect in our relationships. It demonstrates a willingness to put the wellbeing of others and the integrity of the relationship ahead of an ego-driven outcome. The more we do it the easier it gets and the less internal and external conflict we will have in our lives.

From a self-growth perspective, it allows us to be more attuned to our thoughts, feelings and behaviours, and their consequences. Over time, this heightened self-awareness empowers us to develop more reflective emotional responses, greatly enhancing our ability to resolve conflict effectively.

In essence, being ‘wrong’ and ‘sorry’ are essential pillars of healthy human connections. It’s a testament to our growth, empathy, and commitment to nurturing meaningful and authentic relationships.

In many instances, the freedom of not always being right is liberating. That’s why embrace the opportunity to be wrong and eagerly anticipate saying sorry.

*Caution: In relationships with emotionally manipulative individuals, they may exploit your admissions of fault and apology and use them against you. As a coping strategy, some people may refrain from admitting fault only to prevent such attacks. This is totally understandable.