1, 2, 3 EASY DOES IT

02/11/2014

Tonight, I was in the mood for the #15 at Jimmy John’s. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the #15, think of tuna salad on steroids; I really like it on their wheat bread because it’s also a healthier option. I also like to pair the Jalapeño potato chips because they add to the flavor of the sandwich. It's now 8:15 p.m., and while waiting anxiously for my sandwich since I was starving and hadn't eaten since noon, I found this sign hanging around the restaurant and I had to take a picture and write a blog post. But first, I want thank Jimmy John’s for teaching us how to apologize! Made me think about the difficulty many of us have in apologizing for something we have done wrong. Why is apologizing so hard to do? Is it we don’t know what to say? Are we afraid to take responsibility of any wrongdoing? Is it about our pride? Do we fear appearing weak to the "other?"  Although we could analyze all day why it might be difficult for you or another to apologize, if you use these three easy steps, you will not only improve your communication but the other person will feel understood and validated. This really is one the basic fundamental principles to healthy communication, and once you have this down, you can build upon your communication skills. Why don't you give it a whirl the next time you find yourself in a situation that requires you to take ownership and apologize. Do as Jimmy John's says and does and you can't go wrong, and plus, you will have a healthier relationship for doing so:

1. Acknowledge “What I did was wrong.”
2. Verbalize, “I feel badly that I hurt you.”
3. Articulate, “How can I make this better?”

Thank you, Jimmy John’s for helping the nation communicate more effectively! Oh, and thank you for keeping us healthy too!

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