Practicing does not always mean ‘working on’. It’s important to give yourself time with passions and skills in your life to just simply indulge in the activity. You don’t always need to practice. However I recommend if you’re not going to practice that you also don’t judge.

Turn your judgemental brain off and switch gears to a state of being focused on enjoying yourself. Trust me, no matter what level you’re at in a particular skill there are things to enjoy about it – whether its simply the feel of your body, or enjoying the company of your peers.

If you find you’re having a hard time switching your practicing or critical brain off, then change the nature of how you are practicing. In swordplay I often play sparring games that take away the standard competitive environment and allow me to go for outcomes where I feel less critical.

If I’m in a practice environment, like a class, I change my perspective to focus on the process instead of the outcome. How does it feel to do the particular drill or exercise I’m working on? How many of this activity can I do? How can I make this exercise the best I can for my partner?

It takes practice to shift your perspective or put on a new attitude — maybe by focusing on this new way of thinking you can change your point of attention and while doing so, enjoy the old one.