So, don't talk to me about good intentions. Intentions are only meaningful on the front-end before action is taken, that's it. Intentions are not a harbor for justification of piss-poor behavior after the fact. If the buddha were around still, I think he would concur. There is a prescription for a sufficient apology that I didn't write originally but is bursting from me now whistle considering the two dozen roses on my desk now.
1) acknowledge the harm caused by your behavior. Ask questions and communicate until the person harmed says "yes, that's what hurt me." This is 100% the hardest step. I'll write another post on this.
2) tell what you will put in place (systems, strategy, people, etc.) so this same harm doesn't have a good chance of happening again. This point is about reassurance, the second rung on the ladder to rebuilding trust or if trust wasn't totally broken, fortify it.
3) ask "what else can I do?" And throw after this question all the ways you adore this person effectively in your life and having their wellness in that endeavor, paramount.
Flowers and poetry are crushingly underrated, in addition to the steps above. Whatever you feel positively inspired to share to repair, go for it!
Endeavors to repair and maintain valuable relationships. Drop who perpetually sucks. Who said the quality of our lives is determined by the quality of our relationships? That.
xx
-mp