Repentance

One sort of neat thing about the Swedish word for repentance (Omvändelse) is that it, when literally translated, means to turn around (or a turning around). When we repent, we're really just trying to do better than we have been, to turn from sin and turn around towards God. And as long as we continue to do so (that is, try to face towards God), it doesn't really matter how bad we've been, because we're trying to do better and, after enough time, we will improve. I think our desires and what we're trying to do to follow Christ is really what's most important and that, coupled with Christ's atonement, is what allows us to become like Him.