Good post, Adam.
I just stopped thinking, which is kind of odd sounding, but I have.
Not the thinking that I do when I'm figuring out how to get dressed or cook something, I quit thinking about me. My problems, my life, what's going to happen next, how things will turn out, what I should do, where the next meal will come from, all that kind of stuff.
I let God do that and it just happens.
I did the same "pick a role model" routine, too. Once I learned all he could teach me, I picked another, then another, then another, and ended up at Christ. I still have lots to learn from Him, so it's gonna take awhile.
I still take suggestions and ask for help from everyone around me.
I went to dinner the other night and told the waitress "I want some tamales and whatever the gentleman cooking wants to throw on the plate."
I just wanted to make comment because there were so many parallels in your post and mine.