At the onset of a feeling of inner weakness and the need to beg for forgiveness, it is recommended to turn one’s heart toward sincere repentance. In the Christian tradition, such a state is seen as a signal of "bitter trials," when the soul seeks comfort, and it is through repentance and prayer that a person can turn to God for forgiveness and the renewal of inner strength. For example, as stated in the source "1217_6083.txt":
In Protestant theology, the prevailing idea is that salvation is attained solely through faith in Christ, rather than by human merits. This leads to an understanding of one’s own weakness and the human inability to achieve true righteousness, which in turn reduces the tendency to judge others. Every believer recognizes their dependence on the redemptive merits of the Savior, and this results in a focus on personal repentance and an internal struggle with sin rather than on judging one’s neighbor. Thus, the Protestant position often implies that the means of salvation is an experience of personal conversion and rebirth through faith, not a demonstration of external righteousness; consequently, blaming others appears inappropriate and devoid of spiritual foundation.
Self-knowledge occupies a central place in the process of knowing God, for through a deep study of oneself a person discovers the seeds of the Divine within. For example, as a source from file 1190_5949.txt asserts, “Knowing God is an integral part of self-consciousness; one defines and confirms the other; self-knowledge, by the very fact of its existence, bears witness to God-consciousness. The ideal reality and the real ideal, indivisibly united in God-consciousness and human consciousness, are embodied in the Person of the God-Man Christ, for in Him they unite into one indivisible God-Man Self...” This statement emphasizes that an awareness of one’s own essence automatically leads to an awareness of God’s presence within.
The awareness of one’s own duality and the presence of evil within provokes a powerful inner crisis, as a person begins to recognize the irreconcilable clash between the two facets of their essence. On one hand, duality implies that an individual is simultaneously conscious of their strength and weakness, creative potential and destructive tendencies. This understanding drives deep self-exploration, pitting ideals against reality and compelling every internal impulse to be viewed through the lens of conflicting judgments. As reflected in one source:
The integration of the experiences of one's own strength and weakness contributes to the integrity of the personality because it allows one to accept and use two opposing yet complementary sides of the inner world. Experiencing strength gives a person the opportunity to assert their individuality, unleash their creative potential, and take initiative. At the same time, awareness of one’s weakness serves as a reminder of the need to adapt to social norms, consider the opinions of others, and work on one’s limitations. When these two aspects—the active, strong side and the side aware of its boundaries—are combined, the personality begins to see itself as a complex, dynamic process that is constantly developing and striving for self-awareness.