"a Cr@p dress rehearsal usually makes for a good opening night"
Interesting you should say that because I was just thinking that these comments:
...I'm 'in the groove'. Other days, it just doesn't come together like that... Trying harder makes it worse....
Remind me of my much better-developed skill, music; despite many years of perfecting and honing, I still give up on it and have a beer if I'm having one of 'those' days. The physical and mental tension resulting from anxiety about your performance just won't make any positive difference.
Of course, in the air when you still have to get back and down, this option is not available. When you have a concert or recording session on a bad day, the trick is learning ways to survive it somehow without too many people noticing - damage control.
Would more experienced pilots say this is what they do too?