I was asked by UpJourney to share my thoughts on how to write an apology letter to a friend. A letter can help when a friendship has been hurt and the words are difficult to say in person. It gives you time to slow down, think about what happened and decide what you really need to say.
Before you begin, ask yourself why you are writing. Are you truly sorry, or do you simply want your friend to stop being angry? Are you trying to make things right, or are you still trying to prove your side? The reason behind the letter will come through in your words.
This is not the place to add excuses or remind your friend of what they did wrong. Think about how your actions affected them. Let them know why the friendship matters to you and be honest about what you will do differently. An apology means much more when your actions match it afterward.
I shared more of my advice in the full UpJourney article, along with thoughts from other relationship and mental health experts.
