heretofore-
Even if the SA has what to say, if the specific case is not in the SA one can only pasken through the gemara with the help of the rishonim. R’ Moshe and any other meikil in this area are understanding that this is the halacha based on what the gemara and the SA say. But anyway, I wasn’t talking about the halachic status of c.s. regarding paskening from the gemara, I was talking about the story which talks about chumras that one isn’t holding by. You won’t find in SA that he says you should keep an added chumra that you aren’t holding by, hence, the gemara is adequate proof that this is the way to be noheig until someone proves otherwise. As to whether c.s. is a chumra or halacha, we’ve already covered that at length and I’ve shared the views of my rabbanim and have seen and respect yours.
A ba’al nefesh is a person of exceptional yiras shamayim and discipline, literally a soul-master, and such a person knows when he reaches that level.