It may feel impossible to not compare yourself, particularly regarding body image, to others, from celebrities touted in the media to people who are a part of your everyday life.

However, these comparisons can have a negative effect on your self-esteem, placing unrealistic and damaging expectations on you that can affect your self-worth.

On this episode of FranklinCovey Education’s Realiteen Talks, host and High School Practice Leader Gary McGuey was joined by a panel of teenagers to explore how to break the cycle of unhealthy comparisons and learn to love yourself for who you are.

Comparisons can also be drawn between your current self and the person you want to become, such as when you’ve set a goal to lose weight, be more fit or something else entirely. While pushing yourself and setting goals can help you progress, that growth can only occur with a healthy attitude toward your journey.

The panelists offered some tips for managing comparisons, body image and self-esteem.

Recognizing your uniqueness and the beauty of being a singular individual, though difficult, can help put you in a better headspace, as can remembering that everyone has a unique journey that no one else can truly see and working to set realistic, achievable standards for yourself that make you happy.