When the Scaffolding Shifts: Listening to the Inner Alarms
There are times in life when we feel the very structure inside us—the scaffolding that has been holding everything together—begin to shift. It can feel unsettling at first, like the ground beneath us is rearranging. Yet often, this movement is a necessary realignment. The scaffolding is not collapsing, but adjusting to carry us in a new way.
What Is Ours, and What Isn’t
A big part of this shift is recognizing what belongs to us and what doesn’t. For many of us, the old scaffolding has been built on taking responsibility for more than our share—other people’s feelings, choices, or even life paths. That weight can warp the structure. When we begin to remove what isn’t ours, we give our inner framework the chance to stabilize and strengthen.
This isn’t about stepping away from compassion or care—it’s about standing in the truth of what we can hold and allowing others the dignity of carrying what is theirs.
The Lessons of the Ambulances
In recent reflections, ambulances have shown up as a powerful symbol. They arrive with lights and sirens when something urgent needs attention. For me, they’ve been reminders that when I overextend or ignore my own needs, my body and energy eventually send out their own alarm. Sometimes it’s physical pain, sometimes exhaustion, sometimes an emotional flare.
The ambulances ask: Where is the emergency? Is it yours to respond to, or is it time to step aside and let someone else’s team handle it?
We don’t need to chase every siren. Some are signals for us, but many are simply passing by. Learning the difference is part of rebuilding stronger, truer scaffolding within ourselves.
Moving Into New Alignment
As the structure shifts, it can feel strange—like walking through a house where the staircase has been moved. But over time, the new alignment makes sense. We climb more easily, breathe more deeply, and carry ourselves with less strain.
The scaffolding is not meant to hold everything forever—it’s meant to support us as we grow, change, and release.
Reflection Prompt: Where are you holding responsibility that doesn’t belong to you? What would it feel like to gently set it down, trusting that others have their own scaffolding to hold them?
