Anatomy of a Good Repair

A real repair isn't "sorry you feel that way." That's a non-apology wearing a mask. Genuine repair has three components: acknowledgment of impact, ownership of your part, and a commitment to change. Skip any one of these and the repair won't hold.

Try this template: "I see that what I said hurt you [acknowledgment]. I was being defensive because I felt criticized [ownership]. Next time, I'll pause before reacting [commitment]." It takes 30 seconds but can undo hours of emotional damage.