AINYF SHORTS

Getting Sober? What’s Your Competence Level?

Looking at Recovery Through the Four Stages of Competence

Photo by Lawrence Aritao on Unsplash

This learning model was developed in 1960 for corporate training, and we can compare our sobriety story using this model. Or at least I can.

I came across the concept of the four stages of consciousness and competence after I had been sober for a few years. But it made sense to me.

(I stay pretty close to the teachings of AA, so I’m coloring outside the lines here. )

Let me explain. Any time we learn a new way of living/thinking/working, etc., we move through stages of Unconscious Incompetence, Conscious Incompetence, Conscious Competence, and Unconscious Competence.

That’s a mouthful, I know, but bear with me. It helped me understand where I had been and how I had transformed.

There isn’t any timeline associated with the four stages. Some progress quickly, others not so much. Still others, don’t succeed.

Let’s get into it.

Stage One: Unconscious Incompetence — The Blind Stage

I spent years in “unconscious incompetence” — I didn’t know what I didn’t know about my drinking. I had a good job, made enough money to pay bills, and…