If you don’t like what you see when you look in the mirror, it might be because you’re comparing yourself to the picture-perfect images of super models splashed all over magazines, billboards and commercials.

Many people develop self-esteem problems when they realize they can’t be like the images they’ve been inundated with all their lives.

“We all spend huge amounts of time comparing ourselves to others,” says Ann Pardo, director of Behavioral Health at Canyon Ranch in Tucson. “Unfortunately our culture is extremely misinformed about weight and body image. Few people understand that mental and physical fitness are what really matters.”

It’s important to have healthy self-esteem because it affects many areas of your life. People have healthier relationships, become more resilient, enliven their spirits and, as a Washington State University study found, cope with negative situations better when they feel good about themselves.

Self-esteem improves when you concentrate on a “whole person” approach to life and not just worry about weight or looks. Learning how to live in your body with joy helps your self-esteem skyrocket. And it’s more than just having confidence. Self-esteem means believing that you have the right to experience success and personal fulfillment.