Triveni Journal
1927 | 11,233,916 words
Triveni is a journal dedicated to ancient Indian culture, history, philosophy, art, spirituality, music and all sorts of literature. Triveni was founded at Madras in 1927 and since that time various authors have donated their creativity in the form of articles, covering many aspects of public life....
To express regret or apology is a hard task for many of us to do. To say ‘I am sorry’ might give us a feeling of:
Ceding power/territory
Losing a Tug of War
Conceding defeat
Begging forgiveness
Bartering self-status/dignity
Forsaking self-esteem
Incurring insult/injury
Facing humiliation
It is true that it’s a hard fact, It’s harder when we pretty well know that we are more wrong than others. To resist saying ‘I am sorry’, in such occasions, is more:
Blurring / Erring vision
Spreading around toxic ill-will
Broken relations
Raising enemy corps, unknowingly
Conscience-conflicts /
Psycho-knocks
Nagging pain and bother
Losing sleep
Racing pulse and blood pressure
Supposing we are right and others are utterly wrong, don’t we feel bad that at least an apology is not forthcoming?
So saying ‘I am sorry’
is not bad at all when it matters, saying ‘I am sorry’, when it is due results in:
A balm to festering bitterness
Cessation of civic hostilities
Turning adversaries into allies
Winning without bloodshed (social and personal costs)
Reinforcing civil control and parliamentary systems
Building bridges and networking consciences
Enhancing self profile and image
Increasing self-confidence
Expressing an apology or regret is one of the most powerful invitations for community sense and social living. Saying ‘I am sorry’ is a purifying ritual, like confession at church/temple, saying ‘I am sorry’ is a pair of extended hands reaching out for doubling mutual esteem, understanding and all round peace.
(The article is a retelling of the concept based an earlier article found in web-reading. Any distortion is mine.)