Why Ancestral Patterns Create Fear of Success and How to Overcome Them

For those of us whose ancestors have faced oppression—whether through colonization, systemic racism, or other forms of discrimination—the fear of success runs deeper than just mindset. It’s rooted in generations of survival.

As a 2nd generation Mexican-American, I’ve seen these patterns play out in my own life and in the stories passed down from my ancestors. In my own generation, as well as generations past, standing out—daring to make something of yourself—was often met with violence and repression. For some of us its not a only whisper from the past but a lived experience, a reality where those who dared to be different or excel often faced serious consequences.

As someone who is determined to breakthrough conditioning and help others do the same, I have come to understand how deeply these patterns can affect our lives. The fear of success is not just about personal self-doubt or a lack of confidence; it’s the weight of ancestral survival strategies that have been passed down through generations. These strategies once kept us safe, but now, they hold us back from stepping into our full power.

I’ve seen it in myself, in my community, and in the stories of my clients—how the very idea of success can trigger subconscious fears of being too visible, too bold, too “much.” But I also know from my own journey that this fear can be alchemized into power.

Through somatic healing and nervous system work, we can rewire these patterns, shifting from survival mode into leadership, confidence, and sovereign success.

Here’s why those of us from lineages of oppression often experience this fear, and how we can begin to heal and transcend it:

1. Inherited Trauma and Conditioning

Generational trauma is real. Perhaps like me, your ancestors lived through times when visibility, success, and power could make them targets. The survival instinct—stay small, stay safe—was passed down, not as a choice, but as a necessity. I know how deep these patterns can run, and how they shape the way we navigate success today.

2. Fear of Standing Out

When you come from a lineage that has experienced violence for stepping into leadership, success can feel like a threat to your safety. I’ve felt this myself—knowing that stepping into the spotlight, whether in business or life, brings with it a sense of vulnerability. It’s not just fear of failure, but fear of being too visible, too seen.

3. Survivor’s Guilt

There’s also a deeply ingrained sense of survivor’s guilt. Many of us feel the weight of our ancestors’ struggles, and with that comes the belief that maybe we shouldn’t have what they couldn’t. It’s as if success means betraying their legacy. But what I’ve learned is that by stepping into success, we are honoring their resilience, not diminishing it.

4. Cultural Ideas of Success

In our communities, we’ve often been taught that success isn’t for people "like us." Growing up, I saw how the systems and beliefs around me were designed to keep us in specific roles—roles that didn’t include leadership, wealth, or autonomy. The subtle (and not-so-subtle) messages were clear: success was reserved for someone else. Over time, these external messages become internalized, leading us to doubt our worthiness of success.

5. Nervous System Wired For Survival 

Our nervous systems are designed to keep us safe. And when safety in our lineage meant staying small, staying invisible, and avoiding the spotlight, our nervous systems become wired for survival, not success. I’ve experienced this myself—the freeze that comes when it’s time to step up, the anxiety that rises when I become too visible. It wasn’t until I started doing somatic healing that I began to understand how vital it was to work with my body to alchemize that fear into power.

6. Breaking Through the Collective Ceiling

When I stepped into leadership, I wasn’t just facing my own limitations—I was facing generations of limitations imposed on people like me. I could feel the weight of it, the internal and external barriers, but I also felt the opportunity. Breaking through that ceiling is not just about personal growth but about lifting the collective, about showing what’s possible for those who come after me.

7. Healing for Future Generations

The work I do today is not just for me—it’s for future generations. I’m breaking the patterns of survival mode, not only for myself but for my community, my lineage. Somatic healing has been the key. It’s allowed me to shift from fear to power, from survival to success. When we heal ourselves, we create a new blueprint for those who come after us.

Reclaiming our Power

In the past, I was cautious to speak openly about these patterns. I believed that bringing them to light might feel like I was acquiescing to victimhood or defeat. But through my own journey, I’ve come to realize that awareness is power. Acknowledging these patterns isn't designed to keep us stuck in them, it’s about understanding them so we can transcend them.

I’ve also found it difficult to find leaders in the world of success who truly understand these deeper layers of ancestral and systemic conditioning. It’s rare to see spaces where the complexity of these patterns is addressed in a way that empowers, rather than diminishes, our potential.

I am here to do just that, not only to help you understand these patterns but to guide you in overcoming them, as I continue to do in my own journey.

May we honor the best of our ancestors, and step forward, emerging from survival mode into sovereign success. May we reclaim our power, not just for ourselves, but for future generations who deserve to know what true freedom, leadership, and wealth can look like.

Ready to break free from survival patterns? 

I offer a range of ways to help you alchemize fear into power and step into your sovereign success:

1️⃣ 1:1 Somatic Alchemy
A customized 90-day transformation. This transformation will allow you to break free from the survival mode your ancestors endured and step into your sacred work with confidence and clarity.
Activate your success blueprint.

 2️⃣ Sacred Business Mentorship
For spiritual entrepreneurs who are ready to combine sacred wisdom with practical strategies to create soul-aligned success. Together, we’ll break through generational and systemic blocks, helping you build a business that reflects your highest purpose while honoring your ancestral power.
1:1 Mentorship is your path to sovereign success.

3️⃣ RECALIBRATION Breathwork (Online)
A monthly immersive breathwork session to recalibrate your energy and align your nervous system for success. 
Join us live online each month.

4️⃣ Awaken the Creator Within (In-Person Breathwork)
Bi-weekly in Sedona, AZ. Step into your highest potential through a powerful breathwork practice designed to awaken the creator within.
Reserve your space for this in person experience.

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.

Client Testimonials  

"I’ve never made such profound leaps forward in my self-development process and connection to myself as I have with Leandra. If you are ready and willing to open yourself up to who you really are, I cannot recommend Leandra enough."

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"I have been on a journey for over 30 years with top-notch therapists, spiritual teachers and three different spiritual programs. I have made progress and experienced transformation but not to the degree nor the pace in which I have in the last six months of working with Leandra."

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