Comic: THEM CATS in “Self-Limiting Beliefs”
Starring Therapist Cat’s tea mug, Darius…yes, it has a name.
Transcript—
THEM CATS in Self-Limiting Beliefs We Carry: feat. The NPC Mug Who Spoke
Panel 1
Therapist Cat: “How’s life coaching classes going?”
Me Cat: “It’s raw & real.”
*Therapist Cat’s green mug, an NPC, suddenly animates and enlarges*
Therapist Cat’s Green Mug: “HEY! HEY!!! HEY.”
Narration: This surreal moment was brought to you by Therapist Cat’s mug.
Mug: “Hey there. I’m Darius the 5th. Therapist Cat’s 5th tea mug.”
Mug: “Ahem. I can recount Me Cat’s experience.”
Me Cat: “Oh no you can’t. You weren’t there. You have NOOO idea what goes on!!”
Mug: “Bah! You fooool.”
Panel 2
Mug: “You see, I can. I am everywhere.”“For I am omnipotent.”
Me Cat: “Right.”
Therapist Cat (thinking): “I am seriously reducing my catnip intake ASAP.”
Me Cat: “OK, what did I say in my [training] coaching session, huh?”
Mug: “You said you had self-limiting beliefs.”
Me Cat: “Heh.”
Panel 3
Me Cat: “That’s me all the time!”
Mug: “Yes, but you gotta work on it still.”
Me Cat: “My work is never done.”
Therapist Cat: “Mine is.”
Me Cat: “Hey… you ok?” (role reversal)
Therapist Cat: “For now.”
Mug: “fin”
Here’s what befell those other mugs…
Keep Going
Last night I saw Cat Power (aka Chan Marshall) in concert—it's the 20th anniversary of her album “The Greatest,” and I got tickets at the Fox as a pre-birthday celebration.
I'm going to be 55 on February 26th.
I share my birthday with singer/songwriter, Erykah Badu, singer Michael Bolten, actor Tony Randall, animator Tex Avery, writer/poet Victor Hugo, musician/singer Fats Domino, illustrator/rancontuer Honor Daimier, and more.
I find it a comfort to know who has my birthday because they share my sun-sign astrology. They knew or know how to be sensitive, yet flexible. They could & can feel, and all of them demonstrated this through singing, writing, drawing, acting, and playing music.
I'm with my friend. We meet my other friend & her roommate after the show. I've known them post breakup. Three years. My usual run with friends is life-long. So I know this was special.
All I need is to be around people who care about me.
My boo was off teaching. Logistics aside, I'm with my friend who sees me. We will plan a tiny dinner around my birthday. And 55 means I'm a speed limit.
But back to Chan. Cat Power. She’s a little stuff her first two songs—I’ll say it’s warming up. She sings “The Greatest” and I’m so happy to see her on stage—on a screen because I had to go to the loo.
Chan starts around 8:30 p.m. I'm not familiar with her life as a singer. This is the first time seeing her. I wonder what it's like back stage or in the green room. My friends at the Sunshine Prophecy later tell me their experiences seeing Cat Power have been hit or miss. “One time, she just walked off stage. The other time, was the best,” Elena tells me. I read more articles about the singer/songwriters. She’s posing for the camera in her 40s and dressed the way a rock star should dress. I read that Guardian article from 7 years ago, and the more sleek one—all around her Wanderer album release.
Chain’s voice is often described as gritty. Um. No, not that. It’s something else. It’s deeper. And, she can sing covers like you wouldn't believe. I'm hoping one day she’ll sing Prince/Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compates 2 U.” Speaking of covers: She did not sing “Sea of Love,” and that's okay.
Without backup vocals or sax, she plays my favorite song, “Willie.” It slouches into a sway. It's got a message, but the message is a mantra for all those times I try to compare myself or think I'm not good enough.
Please don't bring me down
Please don't let me go
…
I'm on the same side as you
I'm just a little bit behind
The other song that gets me is the opener to “Living Proof.” It’s the kind of opening lyrics that grab you by the balls:
It's not your face
Or the colour of your hair
Or the sound of your voice, my dear
That's got me dragged in here
I was jazzed to see her on stage bedecked in white—which looked like a double-breasted white coat, vest/shirt, and some flared white pants. She looked like a swan with bad posture. She was a little tight, but she opened up. Her voice softens and mellows. It’s whispery clean like in this “Love & Communication” version:
https://music.apple.com/us/music-video/love-communication/1613285526
On YouTube too…
In the bit more produced edition of “Love & Communication,” her voice still confronts you, and the metaphor gets you still:
Learning more and more about less and less and less
On the edge of your seat in some dark movie
Can you memorize the scenes?
They'll be different next week
Can you tell me can you tell can you tell
If there is something better?
'Cause you know there always is
There always is
This is why I think her music appeals to present day. It’s real. But if there were no issues with Cat Power at all—if she were living a solid, solitary capitalist life where nothing was messy, we wouldn’t get Cat Power. We’d get something else.
Limits aside, she’s recognized them. Anyone who’s ever been in therapy or recovery or both knows the pain, feels it, breathes it, and eventually gets on the other side of it.
Resource of the Week—
Pulled from the internet, I saved you from a helpful, yet ad-ridden article on the Top 10 Self Limiting Beliefs:
The Top 10 Self-Limiting Beliefs & How to Let Them Go
Condensed from Tracey Sofra, IFA (2023)
1. “I can’t do this.”
Often rooted in perfectionism or high standards. Counter this by pausing and using a positive affirmation: “I am capable of handling what is in front of me.”
2. “I’m not worthy of love.”
Frequently stems from past hurt or “toxic shame.” Healing starts by shifting your internal dialogue to a compassionate observer who forgives your past self.
3. “I don’t deserve this.”
A form of self-deprecation that leads to self-sabotage. Keep a “win journal” of your accomplishments to visually remind yourself why you deserve success.
4. “I’m not ready yet.”
Classic imposter syndrome. The truth is, few ever feel 100% ready. Focus on taking baby steps and give yourself permission to figure it out as you go.
5. “This is too hard.”
It’s tempting to quit when things get difficult. Remind yourself that growth requires effort and that you have navigated hard things before.
6. “I can’t change.”
This belief keeps you stuck in unfulfilling jobs or relationships. Change doesn’t have to be a leap; it begins with small, consistent steps in a new direction.
7. “I don’t have enough [time/money/resources].”
A scarcity mindset prevents action. Shift focus to what you do have and how you can leverage it or seek professional advice to fill the gaps.
8. “I’m not good at [X].”
Stop slamming the door on yourself. Add the word “yet” to the end of the sentence (e.g., “I’m not good at this yet”) to leave room for growth.
9. “I don’t have time for this.”
We often prioritize the urgent over the important. Instead of “I don’t have time,” try saying, “I am going to make time for this,” to reclaim your agency.
10. “I don’t know how.”
You aren’t alone in feeling lost. Use resources like books, therapy, or mentors. It’s okay not to have the answers immediately; focus on the next right step.
How to Overcome Them:
1. Recognize: Note the negative thought when it happens.
2. Pinpoint: Identify if the belief is rooted in a past negative experience.
3. Question: Ask yourself, “Is this actually true, or am I just used to thinking it?”
4. Reframe: Replace the limit with an affirmation or a “yet.”
5. Practice: Step outside your comfort zone to prove the new belief true.
Citation: Sofra, T. (2023). The top 10 self-limiting beliefs and how to let them go. IFA. https://www.ifa.com.au/the-top-10-self-limiting-beliefs-and-how-to-let-them-go/
The Post Script
VISUAL LIQUID MEGAZINE is a feminist forward lifestyle & poetry/art/photography publication. Its mission is to elucidate the work of the world’s most creative outliers. We celebrate rebels, renaissance women/femmes, BIPOC, Queer/LGBTQIA, disabled & aged creative forces
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THEMCATS.COM - The therapeutic comic about two nameless, non-binary cats in therapy sessions has a new domain at themcats.com!
Disclaimer:
THEM CATS is a work of fiction featuring nameless, non-binary cats navigating therapy and mental wellness themes. While inspired by real therapeutic concepts and personal experiences, all characters, situations, therapists, and dramatic revelations are fictionalized for entertainment and reflection purposes. This comic is not a substitute for professional mental health care, actual therapy, or veterinary advice (the cats are fine). If you have personal mental health concerns, please consult a licensed clinician, and preferably one who accepts your insurance.
Gimme
You got any self-limiting beliefs? Don't talk about them. It will open you up. See a shadow coach like me*
How about you share in the comments who you celebrate your birthday with?
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*I’ve been doing this work intensively with clients for the past year, from this side of the couch. I’m completing Jungian Coaching certification through the Jung Platform in September. I’m not a licensed therapist because I prefer the coaching aspect: were on the same side. We’re (both) not behind.