Breakthrough or negligence?

I'm just not quite sure how or what to think about this. Played at the local Harrah's last night in a 40 man MTT - $50 BI.
I took down second for a nice little cash. Nothing unusual. I expect to be at the final table when I go. My worst finish in the last 6 months was 14th.
"But enough about me, let's talk about you - what do you think about me?"
Sorry, I digress.

After each tournament I review the events of the tourney in my head for about an hour - trying to find where I might have messed up.
In my retrospective I realized I played the whole tournament almost without thinking. I mean I was totally aware of what was going on around me, flop textures, players tendencies, remaining stacks, etc. But before all of this was on a very conscious level. I could have written word for word complete sentences and paragraphs based on what was going on in my head as I evaluated what was going on. It just all seemed to be on auto-pilot. I can't really say I got great cards ALL night. Pocket Tens (which was folded preflop after being hit by a huge reraise), pocket Kings (got no action on my reraise to limpers), pocket Aces (late - took out the bubble at FT). Big slick 3 times (folded one preflop after an all in when the blinds were only 100). Pretty good, but not phenomenal. Most of my chip stack was acquired through just plain old aggression.

So I don't know if I should be concerned about this or celebrate it as a break through to another level or maybe just a once in a while "in the zone" thing. Keep in mind I just passed 2 years since my first ever hold em game so I am a rookie. I do study my ass off and I play about a thousand hands a week (all tourney for the last few months).

So my question is to you long time serious players - did I just have a break through or was I flirting with disaster and need to pull my head out?

With most practical knowledge that we all learn and apply, after a time it becomes habitual. So with one hand you can pat yourself on the back for this knowledge having become instinctual. With the other hand, keep writing about this because it will help clarify things.

Problem with habits is they become predictable.

It sounds like a breakthrough to me... Sounds like it is second nature now, you really dont have to "think" about. You just see it happening, kind of like the movie "A Beautiful Mind"! LOL

Hopefully this will continue!.... Goodluck on and off the felt my friend

Dude, same here. I play about 1,000 hands and maybe 50 sngs a week. When I first started I would see a few options and and desired luck. However now I see 3 bet options, steals, small bluffs, hand caliber by position, ICM, + or - ev, player tendencies, and damnit when to fold that premo hand you got caught limp raising and the flop went sour. It all becomes second nature after awhile. However it should be obvious to myself and others that while you begin to go from nothing to some adept skill we are all no where near mastering the art of cards. kisses