How can I purify my heart, regain my self-respect, and reconnect with Allah after making the mistake of developing feelings for someone in an un-Islamic way, which led to betrayal and emotional distress?
1. Repenting the previous bad deeds and deep feeling of sorrow about it.
2. Firm decision not to do it again under any circumstance.
3. Repeating Estighfaar (Seeking forgiveness) day and night especially when you are alone and during Sujood and in special times like during last one sixth if night (Sahar time).
Wassalam.