You’ve messed up. Perhaps not for the first time. And you’re feeling pretty crap about it. 

Don’t worry – we’ve all been there. Sometimes, the person we’ve hurt is sick of hearing our apologies, so it’s only natural if you’re looking for another way to convey your remorse. 

And that’s what I’ll be revealing today – 8 ways to show you’re sorry without saying anything. 

Sometimes, these types of apologies can be much more effective than just using the 5-letter word.

Let’s jump in:

1) Actively listen

Undivided attention is a powerful thing. 

And if you’ve made a mistake or caused someone inconvenience or pain, the best thing you can do is let them have their reaction. 

I’ve experienced many times when someone cuts me off with their rushed “sorry” rather than letting me explain why I’m angry/annoyed/hurt in the first place. It doesn’t win them any favors.  

Instead, try the following:

• Don’t interrupt them 
• Maintain eye contact
• Turn off distractions (i.e, TV/mobile phone)

And whatever you do, don’t become defensive. There’s nothing worse than claiming you’re sorry, but then following with an excuse for what you’ve done. 

Hopefully, through actively listening to them, they’ll see how genuine you are through your body language. 

2) Correct your mistake

One of the best ways to show you’re sorry without saying a word is to rectify your mistake (if possible). 

This is a silly example, but recently, my boyfriend randomly gave away my brand-new Bluetooth speaker. It wasn’t a big deal, but I was annoyed that he didn’t ask me first. 

He apologized, and I let it go. But the next day he turned up with a new speaker for me. I also noticed him asking me permission before using my things. 

This showed me he really understood why I was initially unimpressed with his actions. 

So, if you can do the same, chances are, the other person will have an easier time forgiving you. They’ll see the effort you’ve gone to sort out the mess you’ve made. 

3) Write a letter

Or an email. But personally, I prefer letters. Why?

Because it’s much more personal. It shows you’ve sat down and truly thought about your actions or words. 

Don’t just apologize in the letter though – express your remorse and discuss how you plan to avoid this happening again in the future. 

Let the other person know what you’ve learned from this mistake. 

Receiving a heartfelt letter like this is likely to show them you genuinely do regret what you did. 

4) Give a thoughtful gift

Before we get into this point, I want to make one thing clear:

A gift isn’t meant to buy their forgiveness. 

Instead, it’s a symbol or token of your remorse. Something to show you’re thinking of the other person, especially if you want to convey your apology without verbally saying it. 

So with that in mind, it should be something meaningful. 

Think about what the other person would value. The more thought you put into it, the more they’ll recognize how sorry you are. 

But at the same time, don’t go overboard. Keep it sweet, small, and sincere. 

5) Body language

Body language is another incredibly useful tool when trying to show you’re sorry without saying a word. Just like actively listening, you can use this to express your emotions. 

Things like a humble, sad expression in your eyes. Or lowering your head. Perhaps even a touch to the arm of the other person, to show your desire to reconnect with them. 

That says a lot about how you’re feeling. It also shows that you’re willing to be vulnerable. 

On the other hand, crossing your arms or huffing can be interpreted as being defensive. 

You want to keep your posture open and face the other person. And don’t forget to maintain eye contact. 

6) Make restitution

If you’ve accidentally broken something or caused someone financial loss, do the right thing and replace it. Pay them back. 

In other words, show that you’re taking responsibility for your actions. 

This is much better than just a simple “sorry”. It shows that you’re prepared to do what’s right to make things better.

But that’s not all…

It also shows you value their friendship. You’re mature enough not to let material objects or money get in the way of that. 

One tip – do it before they ask for it. This shows real integrity. When you’re trying to show someone you’re sorry, you need to be the one to make the first move. 

7) Change your behavior

Now, this next point is more for repeat offenders. 

If you constantly lie to someone, work on being honest. 

If you have a problem with using degrading language, learn to bite your tongue. 

Whatever it is, a change in behavior is worth far more than an empty apology. 

This reminds me of a good friend of mine. His girlfriend kept dismissing his feelings – she was a good person, but let’s say she hadn’t quite learned how to be empathetic. 

When he confronted her about it for the 3rd or 4th time, instead of apologizing, she started researching. 

Since then, she’s made a real effort to listen to him, validate his emotions, and allow him to express himself freely. This meant a lot to him. 

8) Spend quality time

And finally, just be there with the person you’ve hurt. 

Don’t hide away from them, waiting for their forgiveness (unless they specifically ask for space). Don’t make them chase you to keep the friendship alive. 

YOU need to show you’re sorry by making an active effort to spend quality time with them. 

Plan something you know they’ll love. Cook them a nice meal. Do what it takes for them to see you’re genuine in your remorse. 

Trust me, they’ll quickly come around. 

Final thoughts 

So, there we have it, 8 ways to show you’re sorry without saying a word. Hopefully, these tips will help you get across your message.

Remember, the key here is being sincere. 

By putting your apology into action, you can physically show the other person that you’ve realized your mistakes, and that you’re willing to do whatever is necessary to correct it. 

Good luck!