Nicole Bolton | Managing Mental Health and Elite Performance

"For a number of years, success to me was operating in a really unhealthy manner. I would need to be under significant duress away from the game to then step over that white line and go perform, as it was the only time I would feel like I was in control of my life." This episode is with Nicole Bolton - Australian opening batter and arguably one of the best Western Australian cricketers of all time. Bolts has a fascinating story, battling inner demons for the majority of her career, yet finding a way to be one of the most consistent performers in the best team in the world. 5:10 - Why she stepped away from the game at 18 after being in the Australian set-up10:30 - How younger players get derailed and burnout in the current professional environment and the way to change it13:35 - How she focuses her attention in the middle irrelevant of what is happening off the field 17:45 - The search for perfectionism and how it derailed her mental health to the point where she had to leave the game she loved18:30 - Having an out of body experience due to being under serious distress leading into a WBBL game26:05 - Tools Bolts uses to help manage her wellbeing32:00 - How yoga taught her the basics of performance - simplicity, flow, presence and enjoyment 33:10 - Her batting philosophy and how it is centred on trust, courage and freedom34:40 - What makes batting coach Noddy so good, and how their definition of success has nothing to do with hitting cricket balls36:30 - How she uses playing fast bowling to help face her adversities in life41:15 - The 3 most important cricket shots 43:20 - How returning to club cricket reignited her love of the game47:30 - Why it is so difficult to just let go and trust yourself49:20 - How her positive personal narrative leading into the 2019 Ashes ended up being self-destructive52:10 - Bolts' definition of success52:60 - Who is Nicole Bolton at her bestLinks:Stitch in time article: -------------------------------- CONNECT --------------------------------Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0g43fpwWuXoJEDtFQpZf8CApple: https://apple.co/3BTAqn9 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insideedgeproject LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhavi-devchand-85302892/ The Inside Edge Podcast aims to explore how the best in the world navigate all the noise to consistently perform in the most rugged and high-pressure environments. The purpose? To bring back enjoyment, simplicity and connection. To help the next generation live from the inside-out, have the courage to be themselves and simply enjoy the journey. We want to see people stay centred, connected and courageous - especially when it matters most. We blend the latest research with ancient wisdom to transform individuals and teams, so that they can thrive with pressure, not collapse under it. We know that real transformation isn’t just tactical - it’s relational, emotional, human. The Inside Edge is where science meets soul, and tactics meet trust.