“A remorseful mumbling that we are sorry won’t fill the bill at all.” (Chapter 6, Big Book)
“If a repetition is to be prevented, place the problem, along with everything else, in God’s hands.” (Chapter 8, Big Book)
When I make amends, the point is to draw a line under what I’ve done and not repeat the offence.
For my apology to be sincere, I must really be doing everything to avoid a repetition.
Whilst repetitions might occasionally occur, this must be in the context of a radical improvement.
I used to use ‘sorry’ as a way of indirectly securing permission to continue acting with impunity.
That had to go.