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Every year I have a very similar list of aveiros that I want to stop. Practically, I know that it is too much to expect myself to have completely stopped all of them by next Rosh Hashana, so I prioritise and try to focus on some specific ones. However, that means that I'm effectively trying to do teshuva for some aveiros that I know that I'm likely to do again, and also that I'm likely to be doing aveiros that I intend to do teshuva for later.

I know that there is a principle that you can't do teshuva for an aveira if you do it while thinking that you are going to do teshuva later. But there are aveiros that I do that I regret even while I am doing them, but don't feel that I have the strength to stop (yet), but I would like to get to that point in the future. Does that mean that I'm never going to be able to do teshuva, because I intended to while I was doing the aveira, or does it only mean in a situation where someone is only doing the aveira because they think that they can do teshuva later and wipe it out?

Either way, I know that Yom Kippur wipes out aveiros and makes a clean slate, but it almost feels wrong that I can go through Yom Kippur and have my aveiros cleared off the sheet knowing even during YK that I am just going to do them again. Can I really expect those aveiros that I'm expecting to continue doing to be wiped clean by YK?

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    I once heard, don’t recall a source, that when a person does Teshuva and make a small change for the better, he’s considered a new person. Any aveiros he does after that is a new cheshbon. So although he knows he will sin again, it’s like a baby that we know will sin in their lifetime, they are still clean of sin right now
    – Chatzkel
    Commented Sep 23, 2022 at 15:18
  • @Chatzkel thanks. I feel like you are spending so much time responding to my questions atm! May it be a merit for you for next year - ksiva vchasima tova
    – Moses Supposes
    Commented Sep 23, 2022 at 15:44
  • Amen! Thank you. You too, a sweet happy new year!
    – Chatzkel
    Commented Sep 23, 2022 at 15:48
  • A rebbi in my yeshiva gave a shmuz I think you would like (about this subject), you want me to send it to you?
    – Kovy Jacob
    Commented Sep 23, 2022 at 17:48
  • @KovyJacob if it isn't too much trouble, thanks
    – Moses Supposes
    Commented Sep 24, 2022 at 19:41

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RAv Aharon Feldman said in a shiur (I forget his sources) -that he said was inspired by a similar question someone asked him- that it would be a partial teshuvah.

Especially if you are doing what you can to better your situation overall. As you daven, beg Hashem to help you overcome whatever issues you have to be able to serve Him better.

And keep in mind that whatever progress you make is still an improvement and very worthwhile.

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I heard that the main thing is to focus on your direction through introspection which we have a hard time doing but is the key to realize ways where we could change our direction in life

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