julietsierra -> RE: I'm Sorry...but I can't stop apologizing.... (10/30/2006 3:31:41 AM)
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There is a dominant in my community who has an interesting theory about the words "I'm sorry." To her, they can represent kind of a daily affirmation - except in a negative fashion. To her, in effect, when we say "I'm sorry," we're affirming to ourselves without even realizing it that we are sorry individuals. Consequently, she will not allow anyone around her to use the words "I'm sorry." Whenever she hears those words, she'll correct us, saying something akin to "don't say those words my dear, You can apologize but you are not a sorry person." I used to apologize for everything in sight as well. When I heard her say that though, it made sense. Additionally, since saying "I'm sorry" is a habit, instead of trying to get rid of the habit completely, it might help to replace the habit with something else. When you stop to change your verbage from "sorry" to "apologize," you'll build in time to control your impulse to say you're sorry. What ends up getting said then becomes more sincere and more personalized than the glib "I'm sorry." Next time you find yourself dropping into the "I'm sorry" mode, try "I apologize." It's an interesting shift. "I'm sorry" makes the word "sorry" an adjective in which you are describing yourself (not a good thing if you think about it...are you really a sorry individual?) "I apologize" makes the word "apologize" a verb and tells of something you're doing, not who you are. This actually, makes more sense. You take responsibility for your actions with "I apologize," whereas with "I'm sorry," you, in effect, set yourself up for garnering sympathy. Yes yes, I know... I have way too much time on my hands if I can sit around thinking about the ramifications of the differences in the words "I'm sorry" and "I apologize" but it is pretty interesting to me. I don't always succeed with changing out "sorry" for "apologize," but my use of the words "I'm sorry" have lessened significantly. Oh yes, along the way, I've also changed out "I'm sorry" for words of sympathy too. "I'm sorry" has become "oh, dear, I hope you feel better soon" and "Please accept my condolences" and "That's too bad!" and any myriad of other choices rather than the more easily said and perhaps less sincere, "I'm sorry." juliet
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