Bec and I have a fun way of resetting when one of us says something that misses the mark.
That person will re-engage in a lighthearted way by saying something like:
“That was so strange. I seem to have said X but it was supposed to have come out as Y. Is it ok if I try again?”
It needs to be under the right circumstances, but this approach works for us because it acknowledges the other person while diffusing some of the tension.
But there are also times when we get stuck below the line and we can’t reset in the moment.
Again, it can help to come back in a lighthearted way (while still acknowledging the gravity of the situation)
“Who was that guy who was in here before? I swore he looked just like me, but wow, what a jerk”.
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