Apologize Properly -- Say What You Did Wrong, Not "Sorry You Feel That Way"

A real apology names the thing you did, not the other person's reaction to it. "I'm sorry you feel that way" is not an apology -- it's a deflection dressed up as one. It puts the problem on the other person's emotions instead of on your behavior. A genuine apology sounds like: I did this, it was wrong, and I understand why it hurt you.

It takes courage to say those words because it means sitting with the discomfort of having been the one who caused harm. But that discomfort is exactly what makes the apology real. People can tell the difference between someone who is sorry and someone who just wants the conversation to end.