As Freya North once said, "It's not a person's mistakes which define them—it's the way they make amends." It's not just saying we are sorry about things that we may have done in the past, although that can be part of it. Some people may not want to hear from us ever again, and we need to honor that.
When we do make verbal amends, we admit mistakes, but it isn't always about making right what was wrong. Sometimes making amends involves listening to others describe how what we did affected them.
We can make indirect or direct amends. Once we offer them, we move on from our amends.
Clearing up bad energy is important. I don't believe in making direct amends if there is a chance that doing so might injure myself or others.
Making amends is about making better or improving, amending our behaviors and our actions. It's not about repentance for me.