when leading from scarcity isn't serving you

May 19

A few months ago, we said goodbye to a very special team member, our very first hire at Atlanta Wellness Collective and my very first clinical supervisee to achieve full licensure in Georgia. She moved to Tennessee last year and this spring officially launched her own private practice in Knoxville.

On her last day, by some beautiful timing, we had a team dinner planned to celebrate our 2025 Best Therapy Group win for Best of Cobb. What we didn’t plan for? Her. She drove three hours from Knoxville — baby on her hip — to surprise us at the dinner.

I did a double-take. Then I burst into tears. So did she.

“I couldn’t miss my last day on the ATLWell team,” she whispered as we hugged tightly.

Her gesture taught me something lasting about leadership and anxiety.

As leaders, we sometimes tie our worth to what or who we hold onto. Anxiety whispers:
➜ “If they leave, I’ve failed.”
➜ “If they flourish without me, I’m replaceable.”

But the truth is: when someone you’ve mentored succeeds, even after leaving, it’s not a loss. It’s a legacy.

Her growth didn’t threaten my leadership. It affirmed it.

It’s tempting to fall into scarcity mindset, to believe there’s not enough: not enough great team members, clients, opportunities, energy, time.

But we don’t need to lead from scarcity or even abundance.

We need to lead from enoughness.

Enoughness doesn’t mean excess. It means trust.

Try These Tools to Grow a Mindset of Enough:

➜ Notice where you're grasping — and ask what fear is underneath.
➜ Reframe departures and detours — not as losses, but legacy.
➜ End each day with: What did I do that was enough today?
➜ Practice open-handed leadership — celebrate development, even when it means letting go.
➜ Say the thing: “I'm proud of you. You’ll be missed. I'm still on your team.”

Not in a leadership role? Scarcity still shows up.

➜ Comparing yourself to others
➜ Thinking someone else’s success limits your own
➜ Holding back ideas out of fear they’ll be “taken”
➜ Overworking to prove your worth

Scarcity is sneaky. But no matter where you are, you’re already enough.

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Disclaimer: This blog is not intended to substitute professional therapeutic advice. Although I’m a mental health professional, no content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct professional advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Talk with your healthcare provider about your health concerns and before starting or stopping therapies or treatment recommendations.