Israel Dagg - Challenging Beliefs

Israel Dagg: From self-doubt to living life on his own terms

Most New Zealanders know Israel Dagg as a Rugby World Cup-winning All Black. A talented athlete who achieved what many young rugby players only dream of.

But behind the success, Izzy was dealing with struggles that weren't always visible to the outside world.

In recent years, he's spoken openly about his relationship with alcohol, his mental health and some of the difficult experiences that shaped his life.

Now, he's sharing another side of his story.

In this episode of The Mind Shift Podcast, Sridhar sits down with Israel Dagg to explore what it really takes to turn your life around.

For nearly three years, Israel and Sridhar have been working together to understand the beliefs, thoughts and behaviours that were holding him back.

Izzy shares how questioning the stories he'd carried since childhood helped him move beyond people-pleasing, build genuine confidence and become more comfortable being himself.

They also explore why success doesn't necessarily bring happiness, how to stop letting negative thoughts control your decisions, and what it means to live according to what genuinely matters to you.

It's an open, personal and often humorous conversation about taking responsibility for your life, doing the sometimes uncomfortable work of understanding yourself, and discovering what's possible when you stop letting your past define your future.

Episode highlights

• 01:52 Why Izzy decided to share his personal struggles publicly
• 06:01 Taking ownership of his past and finding his reason to change
• 11:41 How childhood beliefs led to years of people-pleasing
• 20:41 Where to begin when negative thoughts are affecting your life
• 26:29 What it means to live as your true self
• 35:06 Building genuine confidence and overcoming self-doubt
• 43:29 The difference between success, happiness and fulfilment
• 49:58 How to respond when old beliefs and negative thoughts return

In this episode, we discuss

• How Izzy moved beyond sobriety to address the beliefs and behaviours affecting his life.
• Why the stories we create about childhood experiences can continue influencing us as adults.
• How questioning negative thoughts can help break patterns of self-doubt and people-pleasing.
• What Izzy has learnt about building confidence, acting intentionally.  and being his authentic self.
• Why achieving success isn't the same as feeling happy and fulfilled.

Key takeaways

Changing your circumstances is only the beginning

Giving up alcohol was an important turning point for Israel, but he discovered there was more work to do. He began looking at the thoughts, beliefs and behaviours that had influenced his decisions for years. His experience highlights the value of understanding what's driving your behaviour, rather than focusing only on changing the behaviour itself.

The stories you believe aren't always the truth

Growing up, Izzy developed a belief that he wasn't loved. That belief stayed with him into adulthood, influencing his relationships and creating a powerful need to please other people. Through his work with Sridhar, he began questioning whether that belief was actually true. By revisiting his experiences and understanding more about what his family had been going through, he discovered a different perspective. And with that came a greater sense of freedom.

Saying no can help you say yes to what matters

For years, Izzy felt obligated to say yes to requests because he wanted people to like him. But constantly trying to please everyone was exhausting and taking time away from his family. Today, he's learning to make decisions based on what genuinely matters to him, rather than worrying about how others might react. For Izzy, that means more time and energy for his wife, children and the things he enjoys.

Confidence doesn't mean never doubting yourself

Even after winning a Rugby World Cup, Israel experienced moments when he questioned whether he was good enough. And those thoughts haven't disappeared completely. The difference is how he responds to them. Instead of automatically believing every negative thought, he's learnt to question it and continue moving forward. He's now embracing new opportunities, learning new skills and stepping into situations he might previously have avoided.

Success and fulfilment aren't the same thing

As a professional athlete, Izzy was constantly chasing the next win, title or achievement. But what happens when you reach those goals and still don't feel fulfilled? Sridhar and Izzy explore the difference between pursuing success because you believe it will make you happy and pursuing your goals from a place of genuine happiness. It's a shift that's helped him rethink what matters most, both personally and professionally.

Personal growth is an ongoing practice

Izzy is open about the fact that he still has difficult days and moments of self-doubt.

But he's learnt to recognise when old patterns are returning and use the tools he's developed to work through them. What once might have affected him for weeks can now sometimes be resolved much sooner. His message is that meaningful change takes courage, honesty and a willingness to keep doing the work.

About Israel Dagg

Israel Dagg is a former All Black and Rugby World Cup winner who represented New Zealand at the highest level of international rugby.

Since retiring from professional rugby, he's built a career in broadcasting and business, including rugby commentary and analysis.

In recent years, Izzy has spoken publicly about his experiences with alcohol, mental health and the personal changes he's made. Today, he's embracing new professional challenges while prioritising his family, personal growth and living a life that feels true to who he is.

Ready to challenge the stories holding you back?

What if some of the things you've believed about yourself for years aren't actually true?

Perhaps you've told yourself you're not confident enough, not good enough or that you need to keep everyone happy.

The Mind Shift helps people question limiting beliefs, reconnect with who they really are and make choices that reflect what matters most to them.

Explore The Mind Shift programmes and discover what's possible when you stop letting old stories run your life.

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