We are "conditioned" to expect love to come into our lives through other people. That's an inherent "pattern" ingrained in us during our childhood, when our parents or other primary caregivers were the ones providing us with love and care. And although we might not be fully aware of it, we are so thoroughly "programmed" by this pattern, that even as adults we ever long for some cherubic "third party" to come into our lives and start loving us unconditionally!
As the old adage goes, you can't love other people unless you love yourself first. However, there is a problem there, since most people don't seem to get along with themselves! That comes as a bit of a surprise, considering that people in general are quite egocentric and are thus supposed to take the very best care of themselves. But, as if they were plagued by some mysterious virus, they don't! On the contrary, they often are at war with themselves, acting in a self-loathing and destructive manner.
