“Whenever I am with my friends, I don’t feel pretty because all the guys flock to my friends. I like my friends, though, so what should I do?”

While it’s important to be well-dressed and well-groomed, if you base your self-worth on looks, you will never be pleased. Even the prettiest girls can find something about their looks to be unhappy about. Everyone has things about themselves—inside and out—that they would love to change. But everyone has special qualities and talents as well. Instead of focusing on what you don’t have, identify your strengths, using them to help others. Here’s one tip for a positive self-image: when you think a bad thought about yourself, counter it with five positive things you have done.

If you are feeling negative about yourself, chances are others feel bad about themselves as well. Instead of focusing on yourself, try uplifting your friends or others who don’t get a lot of attention—both boys and girls. Make sure to build them up while not tearing down your other friends. Jealousy is a form of pride; don’t allow it to destroy your relationships.

Try to see yourself and others as the Lord does. “The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). It’ll take a lot of practice, but when you realize your self-worth is not based on how others see your physical appearance, you will have more meaningful friendships based on appreciating each other’s good qualities. We need to develop a self-worth that’s not selfish and that comes from seeing ourselves and others as God sees us: as His children. We shouldn’t measure our worth on an earthly scale, because our origins are divine.