BS’D
There is a mandatory step that one must take before beginning the teshuva process; hachna’ah (surrendering oneself). The Chovot Halevavot expounds – one must feel that in and of oneself he is nothing without Hashem. All of man’s successes, strength and talents are solely bestowed to him as a Divine gift. Furthermore, each person merits protection from harm only due to Hashem’s endless compassion; not as a result of his actions.
Taking this one step further, we should place our entire beings into Hashem’s hands and rely only on His kindness and not take pride at any time or place. To put it simply; be humble before Hashem, know that everything is a gift, nothing belongs to you. How can we attempt to enter into the gates of teshuva while feeling that we are powerful and deserving? The Rambam ztk’l yet adds that if we feel undeserving of the trials and tribulations we are experiencing, this will undoubtedly hinder our ability to achieve complete atonement.
Teshuva requires that we enter into a state of lev neeshbar (a broken heart). The Midrash writes, “Rebbi Yehoshua ben Levi says great are those with a broken heart for at the time of the Beit HaMikdash man brought korban olah and korban mincha (depending on the need). However, when man came forth with a broken heart it was as though he brought both sacrificies.”
The passuk in Tehillim (34:18), “Hashem is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit” echoes the same thought on how close one feels when he acknowledges how much he needs Hashems to restore his life.
