Two of the holiest gifts that Hashem gave us to help change the way we look at reality are Torah and tefillah (prayer). Only through Torah can we know how precious we are. When we taste the sweetness of Torah other things lose their sweetness. David Hamelech (King David) refers to tefillah as an "outpouring of the soul". In a short while the superficial things that seem so important now will be insignificant. Having to keep up with the way people look at us takes away our simchas hachaim (enjoyment of life).