The Cheerleader Effect: a term dubbed by character Barney Stinson on "How I Met Your Mother." Basically, it’s a superficial way of describing an effect that occurs with groups of women (or men): they always look better in groups. But once you actually take a “good, hard look” at a group of supposed "hot" people individually, it sometimes becomes clear that they aren’t that attractive on their own.

This kind of group deception, although a shallow principle, is a way to think about the people in your life and how they either help or hurt you. Does your friend group help make you seem better than you already are? Or do they just bring you down on the “hotness scale?"

Beyond physical appearance, the group of people you find yourself laughing in a bar with on a Saturday night really does have an effect on who you are as a person. I'm sure there's nothing new about knowing that the people around you can change who you are; I've heard for years that I am the sum of the five or ten closest people to me.

But what I need an occasional reminder of, as I'm sure we all do, is how important it is to reevaluate people and their places in your lives. Because sometimes, they don't deserve to be there.

I want to remind you and empower you to take a careful look at the group of people around you - one at a time. How do they affect your life? Are they a positive influence on you? Do they encourage you to be your best self, and applaud you when you are doing well to reach your goals?

You don't just want friends who will sit in a bar with you, but a group of people who will also support you and push you to be a better person. The same goes for the people in your family, and if they truly have good intentions in regards to their relationship with you. Loyalty, support, and positivity can increase your sense of self-worth and increase your motivation.

It can be difficult to move away from bad influences. Sometimes, time and growing apart towards separate lifestyles/interests is enough to do the trick; other times, you have to be bluntly honest. Either way, the process can be lonely at first.

But in the end, your life will change for the better when you act with your best interests in mind.

I'm not saying you should neglect your friends or act selfishly. Your friends and family who are in your life are simply so important and influential that it's necessary to take extra care in choosing them. I am a strong advocate for the power of social connections, and the power they wield over so many aspects of a person's life.

So, if you're falling victim to the cheerleader effect and associating with a lot of people who seem great but don't truly individually support you, break the distortion and choose wisely. There's no better feeling than knowing you enhance other people's lives, and knowing that they make you a better person, too.

After all, who doesn't want to be the hottest friend group in the bar?