In this transformative episode, I invite you to join me in the No Sorry Challenge – a powerful 24-hour commitment to eliminate unnecessary apologies from your vocabulary and reclaim your voice and confidence in the process.

“You don’t need permission to be powerful. You don’t need to apologize for showing up as you are. Your voice matters. And it’s time the world hears your voice clearly and confidently.”

As a forgiveness and grief coach who’s worked with countless clients (especially women) struggling with self-worth, I’ve observed how a simple word like “sorry” can subtly undermine our presence and power. This challenge addresses that head-on by bringing awareness to a habit so ingrained we often don’t even notice it’s happening.

The premise is simple: for one full day, commit to not saying “sorry” unless it’s genuinely warranted – when you’ve made a mistake or hurt someone. The rest of the time, catch yourself before that automatic apology slips out, pause, and choose a more empowering way to express yourself.

I emphasize that this challenge isn’t about becoming rude or inconsiderate. Rather, it’s about recognizing how often we minimize ourselves without realizing it and giving ourselves permission to stand firmly in our worth instead. For those of us who are recovering people-pleasers, this distinction is crucial – we can be kind and considerate without apologizing for our existence.

“When we constantly say sorry for things that don’t need an apology, we start to send ourselves and others a message: I’m not sure I belong here. I’m not sure my voice matters. And that’s just not true.”

Throughout the episode, I explore why this habit forms in the first place. Many of us, particularly women, have been conditioned to believe that politeness means shrinking, softening, or seeking permission before speaking. We apologize to keep peace, avoid being “too much,” or make others comfortable at our own expense. When we constantly say sorry for things that don’t warrant an apology, we send ourselves and others the message that we’re not sure we belong or that our voice matters.

The heart of this episode features practical alternatives to common apologetic phrases:

• Instead of “Sorry to bother you” → “Excuse me, do you have a moment?”

• Instead of “I just wanted to say” → “I want to say” or “I’d like to share”

• Instead of “I hate to ask, but…” → “Could you help me with this?”

• Instead of “Sorry for taking your time” → “Thank you for your time”

Beyond these verbal shifts, I delve into the deeper mindset transformation that makes this challenge truly powerful. The word “sorry” often stems from a belief that we need permission to speak or that we’re being inconvenient by having needs. The truth is simpler and more liberating: we don’t need permission, we’re not a bother, and our presence belongs here.

I offer two complementary practices to deepen the challenge:

• The power of the pause – catching ourselves before apologizing, taking a breath, and choosing different words

• Rewriting our written communication – scanning emails and texts for softening phrases and replacing them with clear, direct language

Throughout the episode, I acknowledge that this growth might feel uncomfortable at first, and that’s perfectly okay. We’re building a new muscle one phrase at a time, and perfection isn’t the goal – awareness is.

There’s something particularly powerful about this simple challenge: every time we catch ourselves and choose a more confident phrase, we’re not just strengthening our voice in the present – we’re also standing up for every part of us that wasn’t able to stand up for themselves in the past.

I close with encouragement to share this challenge with others who might benefit from moving from “sorry to strong” in their own communication, inviting listeners to let me know how the challenge impacts them. The message is clear and empowering: you don’t need permission to be powerful, you don’t need to apologize for showing up as you are, and your voice matters.

“Every time you catch yourself and choose a more confident phrase, you are strengthening your voice. And you are also standing up for every part of you that wasn’t able to stand up for themselves.”

Resources:

Your FREE Forgive Yourself resources: https://brendareisscoaching.com/podcast-resource-optin/

Are you struggling with a situation or a person in your life? Wondering if you are ready to work on forgiving yourself? Take our quiz to find out your emotional IQ and how this impacts your ability to forgive: https://archetype.brendareisscoaching.com/sf/357cdc60