189: Breaking the Hustle Cycle by Shifting your Money Mindset to Heal Scarcity and Fear

Have you ever caught yourself living in constant hustle mode — pushing for the next milestone in your therapy practice but rarely pausing to breathe, to celebrate, or to simply be? 

I sit down with Jenny Jonker, a therapist, practice owner, and graduate of both my Money Skills for Therapists and Money Skills for Practice Owners programs. Jenny’s story is powerful — she shares how her immigrant background, her family’s experience fleeing war, and the survival mindset that shaped her early years carried into her life as a business owner. Together, we explore what it looks like to shift from fear and scarcity into calm, trust, and true presence. 

I coach Jenny through the process of breaking free from the “always-doing” cycle and learning to actually enjoy the success she’s built. We talk about how trauma, culture, and early money stories shape the way we work — and why slowing down, resting, and allowing ourselves to feel safe in abundance is part of the deeper healing work for therapists. 

Jenny’s reflections are moving and relatable: honoring her parents’ legacy while learning that she doesn’t have to hustle to prove her worth. She reminds us that the path to financial stability in private practice isn’t only about spreadsheets and systems — it’s about healing what’s underneath. 

The Cost of Constant Hustle and How Therapists Can Embrace Rest 

(00:03:11) Finding Purpose Beyond Hustle 

(00:09:01) Breaking Cycles, Reclaiming Your Space 

(00:10:39) Feeling Empowered Through Your Backstory 

(00:18:51) Reflecting on Presence and Growth 

(00:21:07) Hustling to Prove Yourself 

(00:23:01) New Patterns Take Time 

(00:26:10) Prioritizing Rest and Growth 

(00:30:29) Balancing Hustle with Presence 

Redefining “Enough”: Healing the Immigrant Hustle Mindset in Private Practice 

(00:10:05) “Being an immigrant and having my own history and the way that I grew up, I think has really informed my practice and how I show up with clients and how I want to create this space with intention and be able to share my story and my experiences of hardship and poverty with clients in a way that helps them have hope." - Jenny Jonker  

Jenny beautifully describes what she calls her foreboding joy — that anxious feeling when things are finally good, but a part of you is waiting for something to go wrong. She’s practicing new tools to retrain her nervous system, learning to let in safety, joy, and gratitude. One of her grounding techniques: closing her eyes, counting to three, and saying, “I am really here. I deserve this.” 

If you’ve ever felt driven by scarcity, fear, or the pressure to prove yourself, Jenny’s story offers a gentle reminder: your worth doesn’t come from your productivity. It’s okay to slow down, to rest, and to take in how far you’ve come. 

Action Steps to Help You Shift Your Money Narrative:  

Explore your family’s money story. Reflect on the messages you absorbed about money, work, and success growing up. Which beliefs are truly yours, and which are ready to be released? 

Notice when “hustle” shows up. When you feel the pull to overwork, ask: “What am I afraid will happen if I slow down?” 

Practice mindful presence and positive affect tolerance. Try the same exercise I walked Jenny through: sit still, close your eyes, count to three, and open them with the words, “I deserve this. This is my life. I built this.” 

Connect with your younger self. When fear arises, connect with that child part of you and gently remind them, “We’re safe now. I’ve made good choices for us.” 

Celebrate your accomplishments – Visibly. Create...