I think the "zone" you're talking about here comes down to simply a state of intense focus... Let me explain
The hours of practice or training set the foundation for the level of achievement possible when in the "zone." This foundation is the muscle memory that is developed allowing a task to be performed without any conscious thought. If you are then able to free your brain of processing the world around you and focus only on the task at hand, then you become capable of a higher level of performance. Muscle memory is handling things like it always does AND you mind is free to process and react to what you are doing most efficiently.
This is why you come "back to reality" after the performance. You were so focused on the performance that your perception of reality was not a priority for your brain and allowed more energy to be used for making the music feel the way you wanted, or blocking the muscle pain, or in some other way pushing the envelope. (lol, Gleaming the Cube came to mind.)
I don't think faith (or trust) is a factor at all. Consciously, you know what your abilities are and you trust that you can perform at that normal level reliably. In the zone, you find what your abilities are when you let you inhibitions go and get lost in your craft without regard for the world around you. It's not putting faith in something you cannot control; it's allowing the entirety of yourself complete control.
The hours of practice or training set the foundation for the level of achievement possible when in the "zone." This foundation is the muscle memory that is developed allowing a task to be performed without any conscious thought. If you are then able to free your brain of processing the world around you and focus only on the task at hand, then you become capable of a higher level of performance. Muscle memory is handling things like it always does AND you mind is free to process and react to what you are doing most efficiently.
This is why you come "back to reality" after the performance. You were so focused on the performance that your perception of reality was not a priority for your brain and allowed more energy to be used for making the music feel the way you wanted, or blocking the muscle pain, or in some other way pushing the envelope. (lol, Gleaming the Cube came to mind.)
I don't think faith (or trust) is a factor at all. Consciously, you know what your abilities are and you trust that you can perform at that normal level reliably. In the zone, you find what your abilities are when you let you inhibitions go and get lost in your craft without regard for the world around you. It's not putting faith in something you cannot control; it's allowing the entirety of yourself complete control.
