Repent

Make a Way Clear for the Lord

Repent has two components. The realization and the amendment. The realization you did something wrong and the amending of the ways. The change will do you good.

There has to be a commitment
to Change or amend the ways.

AA has a 12 step program for people who chronically mis-act. They chronically engage in behavior that is destructive to themself or others. They say the first step is acknowledging the problem. Hi, I am John and I am an alcoholic. The second part is committing to just stop it. Making amends.
Making amends also has two components. Changing the behavior so it does not stop and making it right with anyone hurt by paying back anyone you wronged to try to fix it. If you are an addict who robbed your parents, admit it and pay them back. If you bet the farm and lost the farm on an illegal bet, pay the money back and stop gambling.

When people and societies only do the first part they are not fully repentant and they don't reap the reward of atonement.
If Assad says, gee that was bad, I shouldn't have gunned down a
park full of protesters, and does it again day two, then clearly he isn't repentant. He is what we call blowing smoke.

This translates nicely in personal life also. Folks who blow smoke might get the guilt but don't do anything to change the behavior. They let the Jezebels glare at them for the ego high and don't tell them to shove off so it goes on and on for years. This makes for very strange bedfellows. Their fancy falls for everything their ego needs for a night.
Guilt might make them regretful but repentance is something different. It is a true changing of the ways and making amends. That is the fullness of repentance. And if you are not there yet, why should anyone trust you?