If you find yourself in a state of sin, simply cultivate the opposite.
Pride
Pride is listed as the first of the 7 deadly sins because it is the sin through which all others stem. Pride is simply identification with the ego, belief in the self over belief in God, refusal to submit to the will of God in order to follow our desires of the flesh and mind. This is often related to narcissism, and self-worship. In the Yoga Sutras, asmita or identification with the ego, is one of the kleshas, the roots of all pain and suffering. Once we adopt the belief that God is not important or does not exist at all and begin to worship our own ego, then we have opened ourselves up to all of the other sins.
The opposite of pride is humility, ego-death. One can cultivate humility by focusing on the needs of others over the needs of yourself or by surrendering your will to God. Ego death allows the "self" identity to fall away completely and leads to a higher level of spiritual development.
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