One of the main breakthroughs or milestones when becoming a Buddhist is realizing that one has to depend on one's own karma. One really has to be more honest with oneself and be more careful about what one does.

"I remember when I was becoming a Buddhist one of the main breakthroughs or milestones, I guess you would say, was when I realized that I really had to depend on my own karma. Prior to that I’d been raised a Christian, and even as I was beginning to have lots of doubts about those teachings, there was still a strong sense that there was somebody up there who was looking after us. Suddenly I realized that if I wanted to be a true Buddhist, I’d have to drop that. That was a real milestone in my mind. It threw me back on my own actions. I really had to be more honest with myself, I really had to be more careful about what I did."

~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu "Being a Buddhist"

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