When You are Wrong - - Make Things Right

Throughout your marriage, you will make mistakes.

Although small mistakes will not initially hurt your marriage, if you do not acknowledge your mistakes, or you become defensive or justify your mistakes, those behaviors will create hostility and a lack of trust between you and your spouse.

It doesn't make any difference if you've made an insignificant mistake or a serious mistake, you need to take ownership of the mistake, admit to it, apologize for it, fix it, and not repeat it.

• Assume Responsibility. Tell the truth if you've made a mistake. Don't put the blame on anyone or anything else. Don't try to hide your mistake or pretend it didn't happen.
• Accept Consequences of Your Mistake. Realize that your spouse may be annoyed or upset with you, but being honest about making the mistake will help defuse your spouse's anger.
  

• Make Things Right. Fix it, clean it up, do what it takes to correct the mistake. Although you can't change the past, you can avoid making the same mistake in the future. Learn from your mistakes.
• Ask for Forgiveness. Be sincere and honest and don't play games. Say "please forgive me." Saying you are sorry isn't enough. Don't expect your spouse to just get over it immediately. Forgive yourself, too.

Quotes About Making Mistakes

John C. Maxwell: "A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them."

Swami Sivananda: “Do not brood over your past mistakes and failures as this will only fill your mind with grief, regret and depression. Do not repeat them in the future.”

Confucius: "A man who has committed a mistake and doesn't correct it is committing another mistake."

Hugh White: "When you make a mistake, don't look back at it long. Take the reason of the thing into your mind and then look forward. Mistakes are lessons of wisdom. The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power."

Nikki Giovanni: "Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to error that counts."

Important Keys to a Successful Marriage Relationship

• Be aware of yourself and take time to get to know yourself.

• Share feelings with one another. Remember that feelings are neither right nor wrong. They just are.

• Reduce stress in your marriage by not nagging each other.

• Work together to get things done around the house. Share the sense of accomplishment. Avoid power and control struggles.

• Remember you are not your spouse's parent. Your spouse will learn from the natural or logical consequences of actions and decisions.

• Show appreciation and give your spouse praise.

• Treat your spouse with respect and kindness.

Pay Attention

Pay attention to how your spouse responds to your praise, or when you make time to be together, or when you nag, or when you get angry. These behaviors have natural consequences in how your spouse acts, feels, and thinks.