It should bother us that we aren't closer to Hashem. That worry is the first step in Shovavim, and that will inspire us to take steps towards attaining taharah.
The Chidushei HaRim zt'l explains the pasuk (6:7) סבלות מתחת אתכם המוציא אלקיכם 'ה אני כי מצרים, "I am Hashem your G-d Who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians." סבלות can also mean tolerance. Hashem will help us that we shouldn't tolerate Mitzrayim any longer. We should be disgusted by their ways, which is the first step towards redemption.
The Sfas Emes writes, "The counsel is that one should hate the bad with all his heart, and that is the beginning of his redemption."
It states (Shemos 2:23) מן האלקים אל שועתם ותעל העבודה, "Their cry ascended to Hashem from the labor." The Divrei Shmuel zt'l translates it, ותעל האלקים אל שועתם, "their shouts to Hashem that He should save them from the yetzer hara," העבודה מן, are more precious in Hashem's eyes than their avodas Hashem."
Yiras Shamayim
It states (9:20-21) הניס פרעה מעבדי 'ה דבר את הירא 'ה דבר אל לבו שם לא ואשר ,הבתים אל מקנהו ואת עבדיו את בשדה מקנהו ואת עבדיו את ויעזב, "He who feared the word of Hashem of Pharaoh's servants drove his servants and his livestock into the houses. But he who did not pay attention to the word of Hashem left his servants and his livestock in the field."
The Imrei Chaim of Vizhnitz zt'l writes to his grandson that this pasuk is the key to acquiring yiras Shamayim. The pasuk tells us that those who don't fear Hashem are because לבו שם לא, they didn't think. They saw many plagues, everything that Moshe warned occurred, but some people still didn’t fear Hashem because they weren’t thinking.
Mesilas Yesharim (2) writes, "When a person goes through life without looking if he is doing good or bad, he is like a blind person walking on the shore. The danger is great, and there is a greater chance that he will be harmed than saved."
On another occasion, the Imrei Chaim quipped that the pasuk says that those who feared Hashem הבתים אל ...הניס, came home. Because if you want to fear Hashem, you are better off not wandering the streets.
Chazal say that there was only one את ירא 'ה דבר person in Mitzrayim who feared Hashem. This was Iyov. All the Mitzriyim saw the makos, but they didn't think and continued in their ways. Only Iyov paid attention to what was happening.
Balak said (Bamidbar 24:20) עמלק גוים ראשית, "Amalek was the head/first of the nations." The problem with Amalek is that he has ideas ראשית, in his head, but he doesn't bring those ideas down to inspire his heart. He, too, won't fear Hashem.
Kedushah
This week, we discussed several paths toward attaining purity in Shovavim, but we shouldn't forget the primary tikkun, which is to improve our ways. Shovavim is the time we atone for deficiencies in our kedushah; it is the time to improve how we guard our thoughts, our eyes, and all related matters.
Chazal (Megillah 16.) tell us that Haman came to meet Mordechai when Mordechai was teaching Torah to his students. Mordechai told his students to leave. Haman asked Mordechai, "What were you learning with them?"
