Tanya Igeres Hateshuva Chapter 1e

In this episode of Clearing the Mud we talk about how the mitzvah of Teshuva is to focus on the future. Even though Teshuva is a process of return and repentance, the essence of it is simply to stop the negative behavior and resolve to do something different in the future. Remorse, confession, and begging for forgiveness are teshuva related but not the essence of it. So even when we do something where remorse is appropriate we look ahead. We don’t get stuck in shame or dwelling on the past. This is why learning about teshuvah is really a positive and empowering process, rather than a negative one.