Watching celebrities on television, looking at models inmagazines or even seeing a beautiful person walk down the streetcan make some want to change their appearance.
However, psychologist Christine Parker of the Memphis CounselingCenter said it is easy for people to feel like they have to comparethemselves to others -- but it is also easy for them to stopcomparing themselves.
"People need to realize that everyone isn't going to like you orbe attracted to you. But there are people who do or will love you,"Parker said. "The point is, let people love you for you mentally,not what you can do for them sexually."
There are positive models on television that young people cancompare themselves with as well, Parker said.
"For instance, Oprah Winfrey is a successful and beautifulwoman," she said. "We watched her as she lost weight and gained,but she's comfortable with herself as Oprah, and people adore herbecause she is Oprah, and she cares about people not because of theway she looks."
Sometimes, low self-esteem transcends to jealousy when studentscompare others negatively with themselves, said University ofMemphis senior Sylferia Transor.
"On this campus, a lot of people compare themselves to otherpeople all the time because they aren't receiving the sameattention," Transor said. "And if the attention is not there, theybegin feeling bad about themselves and think they aren't goodenough."
U of M psychology intern Deadre Holmes stressed that if a personfeels uncomfortable with their appearance, they should do somethingto make them feel good on the inside.
"To those who have low self-esteem concerning your looks, dosomething about it, like start a work-out program," she said. "Ifyou feel better about yourself, you are going to look better."
But sometimes the situation is more complicated, Parkersaid.
"People are told to find what their talents are to overcome lowself-esteem. In some cases, that can be true, but what if a personfails or makes a mistake in their talent, what's next?" Parkerasked. "People then have to learn that it is OK to make a mistakeand that's life. We make them, but we have to move on and do betterthe next time."
Everyone thinks about their appearance occasionally, Parkersaid, but it doesn't have to stay on someone's mind long enough forthem to change because they think they are not the prettiest orthey don't get the most attention.
"People need to realize that everyone has flaws, and it's OK tohave them because that is what makes us," Parker said. "You are youfor a reason, and if someone doesn't like you for you, that is OKtoo. It's part of life. Live it."
