Why 99% of People Turn Back Before Reaching Success (and How To Be The 1% Who Makes It)

What if I told you that the moment you want to quit is actually the moment you're closest to success? Here's what no one tells you about the real journey to your dreams...

Most people believe that the path to their biggest goals should feel... well, good. Exciting. Motivating.

And when it doesn't - when doubt creeps in, when everything feels hard, when that voice in your head starts whispering "maybe this isn't for you" - they assume they're doing something wrong.

So they quit. Start over. Try a different approach. Look for the "easier" path. If you’re like 99% of people you’ve done this many times. 

But what if I told you that this moment…this exact moment when you want to give up…is actually a predictable, necessary, and sacred part of every real transformation?

The Lie That Keeps Your Dreams Just Out of Reach 

Picture this: You have a beautiful vision for your life. Maybe it's the thriving business, the dream relationship, the financial freedom, or feeling healthy and confident in your own skin.

You can see it clearly. You feel excited about it. You start taking steps toward it which is equal parts exciting and terrifying. 

And then...someone shows up promising you a "quantum leap." You see the ads all over social media: 

"Why go through all that hard stuff? Just join my $30,000 mastermind and skip straight to success!"

"Manifest your dreams overnight with this one simple trick!"

"Just be in your pleasure and it will manifest!"

It's so seductive because every human on this planet has a vision for their life that's bigger than where they are right now. And we all wish it were that easy.

But here's what the manifestation porn industry won’t tell you:

The discomfort you feel when you set out to manifest your dreams isn’t a block…it's the doorway. And the only way is THROUGH. 

The Secret Map of Transformation 

What if I told you that there's actually a predictable map for how humans navigate change?

Not just any change but the kind of deep, lasting transformation that actually sticks.

Psychologists Don Kelley and Daryl Conner first documented what they called "The Emotional Stages of Change," and when you understand this map, everything about your journey suddenly makes sense.

Stage 1: The Calling (Uninformed Optimism)

This is where you get the vision. The excitement. The "I can totally do this!" energy.

You don't know what you don't know yet, and that's actually perfect, it's how life gets you to take those first brave steps.

You can see yourself on that stage, publishing that book, hitting that income goal. It feels amazing and clear and totally doable.

Stage 2: The Confrontation (Informed Pessimism)

Reality starts setting in. There's more to learn than you thought. More skills to develop. More logistics to figure out.

This is where about 50% of people turn back to stage one where it feels fun and easy. This is where the manifestation porn industry keeps people stuck trying to “quantum leap” past the real work. 

And this isn’t even the hardest part yet…if you keep going you’ll eventually hit: 

Stage 3: The Valley of Despair

Yes, that's really what the psychologists actually named it.

This is the lowest point on the journey, where everything in you wants to turn back. Where you encounter what I call the "self-doubt demons" - all those voices telling you to give up, that you're not cut out for this, that you should just stay safe in your comfort zone.

This is where 99% of people turn back.

And here's why...

The Ancient Survival Code That’s Sabotaging your Dreams in 2025

In our tribal history, becoming someone completely new - someone different from your original tribe - could literally mean death.

Getting kicked out of the group meant facing the wilderness alone, with all its dangers.

So your nervous system developed very sophisticated mechanisms to keep you from changing too much, too fast.

When you're at the threshold of becoming that new version of yourself - the confident business owner, the healer who charges what she’s worth, the one who takes up space unapologetically - every alarm bell in your system starts going off.

"Danger! If you become this new person, you might get kicked out of the tribe! You might not be safe!"

It feels like real danger, even though you're not actually going to be abandoned in the wilderness when you raise your prices or launch that program.

But your nervous system doesn't know that.

The Moment That Everything Changes (Why Only 1% Push Through)

Here's what's fascinating about Stage 3, the Valley of Despair:

It's called the point of no return because once you get through it, you become that new version of yourself. You can't go back to who you were before.

And some part of you knows this.

That's why the self-doubt demons get so loud. They're making one last desperate attempt to keep you in the familiar, even if the familiar isn't what you actually want.

But if you can learn to move through this stage with grace - if you can become bigger than the fear instead of being consumed by it - something magical happens…

What Lies Beyond the Breaking Point
(The Transformation Most People Never See)

Stage 4: Confidence (Informed Optimism)

Notice that confidence comes after you've moved through the difficult parts, not before.

So many people turn back because they don't feel confident enough to continue. But confidence is earned by doing the thing you were afraid to do.

Stage 5: Success and Fulfillment

This is where everybody wants to be. And here's the beautiful part: once you learn how to navigate these stages, you can apply this skill to any area of your life.

But here's what most people don't tell you...

The Missing Piece That Makes or Breaks Your Transformation 

Understanding the map is just the beginning.

The real transformation happens when you learn how to actually navigate these stages with your nervous system on board.

When you know how to tell the difference between the fear that's trying to save your life and the fear that's trying to keep you small.

When you understand how to create genuine safety in your nervous system so it stops fighting your growth.

When you have tools to move through the Valley of Despair without getting lost there for months or years.

This is embodied work. Somatic work. The kind of transformation that happens in your cells, not just your mind. This is what I teach you inside THRESHOLD.

The 1% Who Make It Through

The people who successfully navigate these stages and reach their visions aren't necessarily the most talented or the luckiest.

They're the ones who understand that discomfort is the doorway. Its data. Its a sign you’re heading in the right direction. 

They know how to honor their resistance while still moving forward.

They've learned to see their nervous system's protests as protection and how to work with it to move forward. 

And most importantly - they have tools to actually work with their body and unconscious mind, not just their willpower. Because willpower might get you a few steps ahead but if you don’t do the deeper work you will always snap back to stage one. Back to safety. 

Where You Are Right Now (And Why It's Actually Perfect)

So here you are, reading this, probably recognizing yourself somewhere in these stages.

Maybe you're in Stage 1, excited about a new vision but wondering why you keep getting derailed.

Maybe you're in Stage 2, feeling overwhelmed by everything you need to learn and do.

Or maybe you're in the Valley of Despair right now, feeling like giving up, wondering if you're cut out for this at all.

Here's what I want you to know: There's nothing wrong with you.

The discomfort you're feeling isn't a sign you're off track. It's a sign that you're exactly where you need to be for the transformation you're calling in.

But you don't have to navigate it alone.

The Life You Could Be Living 6 Months from Now (If You Have the Right Tools)

Imagine if, the next time you felt that familiar urge to start over or give up, you could recognize it as simply part of the process.

Picture yourself moving through the Valley of Despair with tools that actually work - not just positive thinking or willpower, but practices that help your nervous system feel safe to let you grow.

What would be possible if you could cross any threshold in your life with grace, knowing that the discomfort is temporary but the transformation is lasting?

This is exactly what I teach in my THRESHOLD workshop experience.

It's a deep dive into the somatic, embodied work of actually crossing the thresholds that stand between you and your dreams.

You'll learn the specific practices I've developed over a decade of guiding thousands of people through their most challenging transformations.

Because the difference between the 99% who turn back and the 1% who make it through isn't talent or luck.

It's having the right tools for the journey.

Ready to discover what it feels like to move through challenges with grace instead of getting stuck in the trap of starting over? Get instant access to THRESHOLD here and become part of the 1% who actually make it to the other side.

About Leandra Rose

Leandra Rose is a Master Guide for spiritual visionaries & entrepreneurs, blending over a decade of expertise in somatic healing, nervous system mastery, and purpose-driven mentorship. Her signature approach has helped thousands break free from limiting patterns, heal deep emotional imprints, and align their lives with their soul’s mission.

Through Leandra’s programs, leaders unlock authentic self-expression, embody their spiritual gifts, and cultivate sovereign success that is both purposeful and abundant. With her unique ability to merge intuition and strategy, Leandra empowers you to step boldly into your divine calling and manifest the impactful, prosperous life you’re here to create.

Work with Leandra 1-on-1 

Client Testimonials  

“I wanted to let you know how exceptionally the Threshold practice works for me. I went back to watch again today after coming up against an old fear. I used the practice to connect to my inner power, and the messages opened new insights. I can now move forward with a different attitude, the fear has gone, and I can see how I'll use the tools available to suit my needs, and that of my business. It's genuinely making a difference in all aspects of my life, and is the next step forward in my becoming process.”

- Jocelyn Yeoman, Founder of A Balanced Life, New Zealand, serving HSPs globally

“If you have been through traditional therapies and have an understanding of cause and reaction but still find yourself in that hazy fog of why can’t I make that shift to embrace more of what you know is possible, you may be stuck in fight and flight as I was.  

Consider Leandra’s warm, caring, and gentle walk through Somatic Therapy that taps into the subconscious allowing it to effectively soothe the nervous system by offering an alternative safe, reaction to life’s daily obstacles both small and large that bog one down and allowing you to reach out and welcome your greater self. 

Leandra helped me find and own my graceful strength that offers the power and strength to move forward and embrace life more fully.”

- S.H., Artist & teacher

“Working with Leandra, I have been able to dramatically reduce my anxiety and fears, identify what I desire in life, and take steps towards honoring my true self. Leandra balances compassion, intuition, and action in a supportive environment that allows for rapid emotional and spiritual growth. I would highly recommend anyone dealing with unresolved issues, or feeling like there is “more” to life, to have Leandra guide you to what is possible."

 - Sarah, Human Resources Manager, Scottsdale, Arizona