I dunno, OM,
I kinda liked that part where Gilliland talks about realizing when you're caught up in the moment by watching and waiting for it beforehand, and then taking over from doing whatever comes naturally or as a kneejerk reaction, but instead think it through, stop the unconscious part when it's not being productive or not making sense. At least that's what I took it to mean...
I think that's part of what he was talking about... I tested it first on solitaire, which I play very very quickly and it does really sometimes "jerk" you mentally, when you pause and take over from what you'd normally do. Then I tried it in chess, which I've played for years, ever since I was a kid, especially bughouse and speed chess, then I tried it in a DYP with a not quite hapless rookie netsperson. Really helps in staying calm and continuing to concentrate on the current shot or pass I was trying to make. I would often get caught up in a bad break and ruin the next couple of serves. Works pretty well, but you have to really warn yourself before the match starts.
Speaking about your comfort zone, few brews and a' flyswattin' we will go, it reminds me, weirdly, of several times and places where I can send my mind to during stressful situations... Now I can help myself by remembering several peaceful instances and being ready to force my mind to that quieting memory. Lagniappes (there are NEVER ANY HOT WOMEN in my comfort times, no cable, no cell, never in mid-April, nowhere near a building or a store, and quite often in the rain...).