One of the hardest apologies to make is when you genuinely didn’t mean to hurt your partner. Because the minute they tell you they’re hurt, you want to explain: “But that’s not what I meant.” And maybe it wasn’t. Your intention matters. But it doesn’t have to be the first thing you defend. If I step on your foot accidentally, I don’t need to convince you that I didn’t mean to step on it before I say I’m sorry it hurt. The same is true emotionally. Try starting with: “I’m sorry. I can see why that hurt you.” Or even: “That wasn’t my intention, but I understand that it was the impact. I’m sorry.” You’re not admitting to an intention you didn’t have. You’re acknowledging the experience your partner DID have. And once someone feels understood, there’s usually a lot more room for them to hear what you meant too. A good apology doesn’t require you to agree on every detail of what happened. It requires you to care that the person you love got hurt ♥️ #healthyrelationships #relat...