I Am Not Sorry.

Let's talk about the unnecessary overuse of the word "sorry."

Ladies, we are the toughest peacemakers out there—so why does it feel like we compulsively apologize instead of speaking up? Sloane Crosley wrote an op-ed about women’s tendency to apologize, noting that "sorry" often serves as a "poor translation for a string of expletives." She isn’t wrong. Not only can it be a weak substitute for frustration, but it also becomes a filler in silence, an attempt to keep the peace. Have you done this before? If so, do you agree? Why do you feel the need to be the peacemaker?

When we say "I’m sorry," we undervalue ourselves. Instead of apologizing and shrinking back, why not own the mistake and move forward with confidence? Let’s start being intentional with our language, even when we are wrong. After all, language is power, and to be the strong women we truly are, we must take the first step in changing how we communicate—first in the workplace, then in our daily lives.

I cut "I’m sorry" from my vocabulary about a year ago—not in some dramatic, vow-taking kind of way, but in small steps that made me rethink how I handled mistakes. And honestly? It’s been a fascinating experiment in confidence. Instead of defaulting to an apology, I use phrases like: "That was my mistake. I will [xxx] in the future. Thank you for making me aware." These strategies help me directly acknowledge my misstep, commit to improvement, and invite accountability—without resorting to needless apologies. Instead of engaging in defensiveness or shifting blame, I thank the other person for their communication. I encourage you to brainstorm your own alternatives to the automatic “I’m sorry” and find phrasing that genuinely reflects accountability.

Of course, thoughtful apologies have their place, but it’s important to remember that they aren’t always necessary. Apologies don’t inherently increase forgiveness; rather, they signal to others that you are accepting blame.

So, let’s stop apologizing for our past language habits and instead focus on executing stronger, more intentional communication. Be bold, stand firm, and apologize sparingly.