“I recognize my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.” (51:5)

Judaism favors the religious person who rejects the impulse to say ‘I am a sinner and I am worthless’ in favor of saying ‘I am a sinner and my repentance completes my atonement.’ To atone, one starts by embracing the practice of daily heshbon hanefesh, self-evaluation. We begin by taking responsibility for the mistakes which happen every day, the first step towards teshuvah (repentance); and conclude by wiping ourselves clean of sin and achieving atonement.