You know, just like in any kind of relationship you have to get to know the person before you can love them. Loving yourself takes time.
Yes and no. Sometimes the person that you love, and loves you, can help you to learn to love yourself. But you have to at least like yourself to find someone to help you to learn to love yourself.
I tend to agree with Yin in that "Loving yourself" takes time. Part of this is that we have to be okay with all of our little flaws, and get a clear understanding of who we are in just about any circumstance, and how our impulsive brain works to get what it wants.
This just take years, it takes decades.
We can love someone just fine, but we tend to love them BETTER After we learn those things about ourselves that result in us Loving ourselves.
Loving yourself is a perspective as well as an act. Like all love, it involves caring, respecting, responding to, and coming to know---yourself.
Start early and practice frequently.
Treat others the same way.
You can get good at both at the same time.
Being a ex alcoholic addict u have to love something because in your addiction you love the high or drunk.
Yes, then love life itself.
With out it there would be nothing.