Acting Soliloquists

A soliloquist is one who talks to him/her-self.  I am further defining an acting soliloquist as one who believes and lives as if he/she is the only being in existence.  René Descartes would have been the epitome of an acting soliloquist if he had stopped his reasoning at, "I think, therefore I am." 

We all talk to ourselves to some extent, some mentally and others audibly.  It is a natural tendency, and perhaps it is healthy to some degree.  In our culture, however, we are teaching and encouraging others to be single-dimensional, "me" thinkers.  We have a tendency to evaluate most if not all issues based on how satisfied "I" am with it.  Consider the epidemic divorce rate or the short job stints as examples.  If my marriage or my job is not meeting all of my needs or making me happy, I can just leave and find someone or something else.

John Donne correctly stated, "No man is an island."  We live in a multi-dimensional world.  When we bring our one-dimensional, me-centered thinking into our multi-dimensional world, our delusions are completely crushed.  Other people do exist, and they do have their own needs and desires.  Real life is messy.  No matter how wonderful my own little (or grandiose) world is, it is not reality.  While some of us feign multi-dimensional living using politics, these people are really merely functional acting soliloquists.  These individuals have only learned to manipulate the multi-dimensional world to fit into their own single-dimensional worlds.

How do we overcome the acting soliloquism syndrome? 
1) Identify who I am (and who I am not).
2) Understand that the world is not about me.
3) Foster a genuine concern for other people.

In fact, the only way to overcome is with a proper worldview, grappling with and fully grasping the message and context of God's message in the Bible.  James 1:27 says, "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."  There is no better way to combat the lies of the world than to inundate oneself with Godliness.  What does God desire of you?  Care for others and keep yourself clean from worldliness.  Get out of your me-centered, single-dimensional world, and step into the multi-dimensional reality.