I don't have an inner monologue as I find it explained in many of these articles, in the sense that I don't notice myself addressing myself with it. I would rather say I have a constant _dialogue_ with what I would describe as projections of people I know. I guess I must have developed that as a strategy to prepare for conversations, to evaluate how they might respond, but now it's so automatic that it can be really annoying, and even with a lot of meditation exercise I haven't managed to switch it off yet. There's a lot of arguments going on between different "people" in my mind quite often, most of the time actually, each "telling me their opinion". Which I know is simply me imagining how they might think of something.
I am also considering that this may be what people describe as "different parts of themselves"? In these sense that I sometimes find it hard to make a decision because I am "still engaged in conversations around it inside me". It also feels sometimes like I am never alone: there are always lots of witnesses to anything I do.
>I would rather say I have a constant _dialogue_ with what I would describe as projections of people I know. I guess I must have developed that as a strategy to prepare for conversations, to evaluate how they might respond
This part is called "scripting" in asd and adhd circles.
> There's a lot of arguments going on between different "people" in my mind quite often, most of the time actually, each "telling me their opinion". Which I know is simply me imagining how they might think of something.
This is called internal family systems and it's super useful in therapy. It can be fun to give them names, likenesses and personalties too. But the value is as you say helping you identify competing motivations, where an emotional reaction might be coming from, externalize them (mindfulness for cheaters), and make decisions where there are trade-offs.
I've kept my IFS since I was a tween and it's sweet to look back and see how much they've all grown and matured.
Also, your parts are all part of you just as much as your Self is. Do you think it wise to not engage with the Parts that have a great deal of influence and input into your experience of your life or how you react/behave in relation to what happens in it?
I am also considering that this may be what people describe as "different parts of themselves"? In these sense that I sometimes find it hard to make a decision because I am "still engaged in conversations around it inside me". It also feels sometimes like I am never alone: there are always lots of witnesses to anything I do.