Huh... I've had the same kind of philosophy for a long time. Except I would explain it like you're in a long hallway, with doors on either side all along the way... be careful to stay in the hallway, because sometimes you might go through a door and not be able to easily come back. Crack a door and peak, if you must, but try and stay in the hallway

It was mainly a tool I used for maintaining mind during a hallucinagenic trip, but has stayed with me as a tool for "regulating myself", so to speak. Interesting that you describe basically the same concept