I know your confusing experience - had this once or twice when I started working on my timing, or simply started thinking consciously what I was doing at all...
Anyway, I use a five setp approach, even though my initial step is very small. I found that I need this "trigger" to get me moving and starting the pushaway in sync; with just four steps I always had timing difficulties and tendency to have fast feet. The initial trigger steps lets me move more smoothly, and in fact I start very slowly, just to "explode" with my second-to-last step, when I generate leverage for the forward swing and slide phase.
Just do not overthink things, let the pendulum and gravity rule, and a good knee bend is also helpful.
