Do you find yourself apologizing all the time, whether it is needed or not? Whether you have done anything or not? Just because?

If you find yourself resonating with any of this, it might be time to look at why you feel compelled to say I’m sorry so often. It is actually more common than you might think.

There are a few things to consider. Yes, there are absolutely valid reasons for apologizing to be sure. In some cases real apologies are needed, in other social situations it may in fact be polite & courteous to err on the side of caution and extend yourself in this way.

On the other hand, what if it is just habit that you have acquired over the years and now do it without thinking?

Perhaps it goes deeper and is representative of not feeling your own value or self worth. This is an opportunity to be curious about why you may feel compelled to take responsibility for whatever has gone wrong in the situation.

It is important to be aware of what you are saying, why you are saying it and what you are feeling in those moments, without judging yourself.

For the next few days, try to pay attention, especially to your emotions to see if you are feeling anything that is triggering the need to apologize. Are you feeling anxious, embarrassed, angry, stressed? Are you feeling the need to apologize to diffuse tension?

Once you have some awareness around how often you do it and what is going on inside when you apologize, it should be easier to perhaps find other words that may be more accurate. For example is an “excuse me” more appropriate, or an acknowledgement of a tough situation or feeling emotional about a topic the better choice?

There are no wrong answers here, just an opportunity to learn more about yourself, so you can be in alignment with who you are and who you want to be in this world.