Ups & Downs

The ChronicBabe blog carnival topic right now is - We all fall down...and then we get right back up again. Kind of fitting today because I've been down for about a week now. From my present state of mind I feel like my chronic pain has pulled me down and occasionally I pull myself up out of the mire.

I know this is just a matter of perspective. A case of glass half empty or half full. When I'm down it feel like that's where I spend most of my time and boy is it difficult to claw up out of it. But once I am out of it I feel hopeful, energized and my glass is half full again.
Sometimes I wonder how much control I have over the ups and downs. It seems to be largely dictated by my level of pain and discomfort. But at the same time I believe that our thoughts and our state of mind are powerful influences in our lives. Plus I really want/need to have steps I can take when I'm down. Here are some of the things I do to try to pull myself up.
1. Make time to think about the many blessings I have. This really helps to put my mind in a thankful and more positive position.
2. Spend as much time as possible consuming comedy. Obviously, laughter is one of those really important things in life. I happen think it's actually critical in the life of someone with chornic pain - it is in mine. When I'm down that's when I need it most. Again, this is about putting my mind in a more positive position.
3. Try to have conversations with friends. I've lived far away from my support system almost the entire time I've struggled with this chronic pain. Sometimes just having a phone conversation or online chat with one of my friends back home can remind me that there is more to me than just the struggles of pain.
4. Pray and be still. I'm working on getting the hang of meditation so I can add that too.
5. Snuggle with my husband.
The way I see it, we don't have a choice. When we're down we have to find our way back up. What do you do to pull yourself up when you're down?