Not knowing where to start can either be liberating or completely overwhelming. But it’s usually just an excuse. If there is no clear place to start, then there is no wrong place to start.

Start somewhere—anywhere. When it comes to making changes in your life, ...

• An excuse can provide us a sense of control on our lives, viewing our mistakes as an anomaly.
• Shifting responsibility to an external force seems safer than a simple apology ("Sorry, I had a flat tire".)
• It helps maintain our social ties and positive perceptions of our coll...

• An apology is useless if spoken too soon. It is important to first let the grieving party speak their minds.
• For public figures, the sincerity of the apology is trickier, as their public apology (to a grieving party or family member) may sound good to the world but may not be enoug...