Religion turns repentance into a painful process filled with guilt and shame based on the fear of punishment and rejection. Jesus taught that repentance is a process of healing and acceptance that restores people to a place of wholeness and peace in Him.
The emotional energy that it takes to live in sorrow and regret of past failures should be spent connecting yourself to the blessings God has for you today. The gospel isn't about your past but your present and future reality. The thief on the cross looked forward to being in Paradise with Jesus. The woman caught in adultery walked free from the sin that bound her, and the Prodigal Son was embraced, kissed, and thrown a party. Let the past stay there. Allow God’s love to usher you into the future God always had for you.