Saying 'sorry' is not the problem.
Feb 3
1 min read
Updated: Jul 13
"I was told to stop saying sorry, but what if I actually am?"
That's what a client shared in one of our first sessions.
She was empathetic, collaborative and trusted. But she was exhausted from trying to be the good one.
She found herself:
Saying yes when she meant no
Holding back on her ideas
Apologizing often...and out of habit
The advice she'd heard:
Be stronger
Speak up
Stop saying sorry
But telling someone to be different creates even more imposter syndrome.
It can act like a band aid instead of enabling genuine change.
In our conversations my client learned that:
She said yes to please others.
She held back to be nice.
She apologized out of habit and from a need to stay small.
Once she understood her mindset, she could shift and develop true inner confidence.
The shift, she began to communicate with intention, instead of reflex, and everything shifted:
She stopped minimizing.
She spoke with clarity and conviction.
She used 'sorry', but only when she meant it and without shame.
The takeaway: Strong communication isn't about cutting words or being someone you're not.
It's about choosing your words and way of being with intention.
Take a moment to consider:
What is a reflex response to reconsider?
