"Professional trainer Bryan Flanagan identifies four stages of growth. In stage one, we are “Unconsciously Incompetent.” We’re naive. We don’t even realize how little we know. In stage two we become “Consciously Incompetent.” We start to realize how little we know and we start to do something about it. Stage three is “Consciously Competent.” We realize our hard work is paying off as we master a new skill. Stage four is “Unconsciously Competent.” The new skill has now become second nature and we don’t even think about it any more. In 2 Peter 1, God describes the Christian life as one of continual growth. Yet many resist growth because it can be painful and humbling to admit your needs and incompetencies. Escaping those first stages of “unconsciously incompetent” and “consciously incompetent” requires that we apply some effort. But the rewards are there, for those who want to redeem the time. "