Learn how to make a meaningful apology. And as tempting as it might be to downplay your mistake, minimizing your responsibility only makes things worse. Youll risk damaging the relationship even more. Verywell / Julie Bang But saying, Im sorry, doesnt automatically make things better. Apologies often fall shortor even make things worse. If your apology goes awry, youll likely meet resistance. Fortunately, there are people out there who research what goes into an effective apology....

Most people can hold five to nine words in short-term memory, but your own abilities may vary. you’re free to learn more by using some of the memory test words below. you could do this experiment on your own or with a small group of volunteers. Muharrem Oner / Getty Images Look at the list of words below for two minutes. Memorize as many words as you’re free to in this amount of time....

Friday Fix: Episode 158 Weve all wrestled with tough decisions before. Should I move to a new city? Should Ifind a different job? Verywell / Julie Bang Should Iend this relationship? Its not always those big decisions that are tough. Some smaller decisions are tough too. Should I call my friend and tell them theyhurt my feelings? When youre struggling to know what to do, you likely have some go-to habits you reach for....

Being glued to screens all day, no matter how small, is not healthy. Over 600 individuals were randomly selected and divided into three groups. One group did not use their smartphones at all for one week. Verywell / Laura Porter The final group continued to use their smartphones without changing their behaviors. Researchers asked questions about the individuals physical activity, cigarette smoking, and signs of depression or anxiety. Making Your Smartphone Work for You The need for smartphone usage varies from person to person....

Growing up, we didnt have much. According to Ramos, dedication,discipline,productivity, andflexibilityare essential qualities for success. Dreaming about your desires is one thing; taking action to go after them is another. Maskot / Getty Images Heres how and why you should develop a strong work ethic. A work ethic is made up of many qualities that contribute to your success and effectiveness in the workplace. Humility and Ownership You wont know everything and youll make mistakes....

It may be one of the least popular of all the 12 steps. After all, it doesn’t exactly feel great when we’re wrong and have to admit it. But without this step, progress toward recovery can not only cease, it can actually lose ground. NicolasMcComber / Getty Images Watching for these disturbances on a daily basisand taking a daily inventoryis an important part of recovery. Step 10 helps to keep the spiritual house clean....

But the principle is the same. so that work all 12 of the steps, we must take a stab at help others. The program would cease to exist if nobody were doing any 12th-step work. FG Trade Latin / Getty Images Without the service work of those who came before, no members would be here now. It requires practicing these principles in all our affairs. For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database....

For some, this might refer to God, their faith, or their spirituality. What Is Step 2 of AA? Step 2 Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. filadendron / Getty Images This suggests your belief does not need to center on a supernatural being or force. Instead, your understanding of this greater power can refer to anything you believe is greater than yourself....

The next logical step is to voice all of those things we did while drinking or using. That leads us to step 5. Admitting wrongs to a higher power and to ourselves is one thing. Lars Fronius / Getty Images To actually tell someone else theexactnature of our wrongs can be a frightening task indeed. There is a reason that the first admission of wrongs is to God as we understand Him....

This policy also helps members keep the focus on their common purpose. It does not engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any cause." We would be like a political party. I believe this tradition is important for individual AA members as well. Maryann Tradition 10: An Oxymoron? In theory, it is a wonderful Tradition. As the old saying goes, by not making a decision you are making a decision....

Al-Anon includes the addition, “We need guard with special care the anonymity of all AA members.” He might simply say he is in “a recovery group.” What happens if that person relapses? Getty Images The original message of “we get better” has become “things get better.” Outside institutions say that it does not matter which 12-step program you go to they are all the same. A member does not cede this responsibility to a spokesperson or promotion campaign....

Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern." No one member “directs” or “controls” the actions of the other members of the group. Group decisions are just that, group decisions. PeopleImages/iStock/Getty Images This vote is called a “group conscience.” But There Are Leaders… This tradition has been misquoted many times as “we have no leaders.” Groups clearly have other “leaders” also. These, too, are leaders, but they do not govern either....

Declining these contributions keeps the fellowship independent from outside influences. It also cuts out the need to constantly chase donor funding and government grants. Many come to AA at rock bottom, without a job or place to stay. Getty Images The AA co-founders understood this and Tradition 7 protects the program from getting outside help. The program shows how an alcoholic who was socially irresponsible came to be responsible. AA member Tigger notes, “For a long time some of us were ‘that pitiful drunk....