Author’s Note: I previously wrote a post on The Art of Apologizing in which I explained common misconceptions that damage our ability to effectively apologize. One of my readers suggested a follow-up post on how to accept an apology. I thought it was a great idea and so here it is!

The art of accepting an apology

“A happy marriage is the union of two forgivers.”

This quote, most often attributed to Ruth Bell Graham, has so much truth in it. Couples that know how to forgive well, get along better. Sounds simple doesn’t it? Like most things in life though, there is more to it. As such, I’ve found myself wanting to slightly amend Graham’s quote to:

A happy marriage is the union of two people who know how to express forgiveness.

You probably know where I’m going with this. Just as there is an art to apologizing well, there is also an art to accepting the apology in a way that expresses your sincerity.
“It’s one thing to forgive, but it’s another thing to do so in a way your spouse will know, deep down in his/her heart, you hold no bitterness”.

First comes the apology

I’m making the assumption your spouse knows they’ve goofed and has attempted to rectify the situation with a sincere apology. I am not addressing situations in which one spouse chooses to forgive an unapologetic spouse. That’s an entirely different topic worthy of a blog post all it’s own.

I also readily admit that delivering an apology well is tougher than effectively accepting one. But how we accept our spouse’s apology can still make a huge difference in the quality of our relationships.

Why our response matters

Think about it. How many of us have ended up in a secondary fight with our spouse when we’ve apologized about something and they’ve said they accept it, but yet we don’t really feel the acceptance which in turn makes us angry and resentful. It happens a lot, right? That’s why we all need to practice the apology-accepting side of the equation a little more aggressively.

The research backs this up. Studies by Dr. John Gottman highlight the importance of being able to rebound from conflict and return to positive conversation. The key to this rebounding involves three behaviors:

1. Shared humor
2. Affection
3. Empathy

How important are these three elements? Dr. Gottman’s research also shows that when these three aren’t present during and after conflict, the couple is likely to divorce. To me, that’s a serious signal to sit up and take notice.

How to accept an apology

I’ve translated Dr. Gottman’s findings into four practical steps.

#1 – Say the words.

Nothing takes the place of your spouse hearing you say, “I believe you’re sorry” and “I want to move past this as well.” You can use your own version of the words but the message must be the same.

#2 – Include appreciation.

Tell them what it means to you to have received their apology. This is one of the ways you can show empathy. Empathy is when we’ve been in the other person’s shoes and know how it feels. Think about yourself. Can you remember a time it was difficult to apologize, even when you knew you were wrong? Remembering how it feels will help you sincerely tell your spouse you understand how difficult apologizing can be and you appreciate their effort.

#3 Lighten it up.

The apology-giver is on the hook until we let them off. The quickest way to let them off is to show you still enjoy being with them. A wink of the eye, an acknowledgement that you’ve made a similar mistake (another good way to empathize), an invitation to spend time together doing something fun – are all good ways to reinforce the words you’ve already spoken and to take the pressure off the apologizer.

Two warnings: 1) Never make light of the situation that led to the need for an apology (still tender ground); and 2) Don’t discount the need for the apology in the first place. This is not about making light of the apology or the situation that caused the need for the apology. It’s about moving on and showing each other you can move past it together.

#4 Get physical.

Yes, make-up sex is always a good option, but that’s not necessarily what I mean. What is your spouse’s love language? Think about how your spouse likes you to show affection, and do that. Nothing better communicates your relationship is back on solid ground than saying “I still love you” to your spouse in the way that speaks best to them.

When accepting an apology isn’t the answer

Obviously, there is a vast range of situations involving apologies, with various levels of impact to our marriages. This four-step process works wonders for accepting an apology within the day-to day flow of life, when we’re dealing with the natural conflicts that come with different personalities and sometimes thoughtless behaviors. But infidelity, violence and other forms of abuse require a much more in-depth process of admission and forgiveness. If you’re in that situation, you need a marriage counselor’s help. Without professional intervention, it is highly unlikely you’ll be able to move past the incident and into a place of healing.

The Marriage Place counselors and coaches can help with those tough situations. But we can also help you prevent those situations, by sharpening your relationship skills to avoid high levels of conflict in your marriage.