I know it sounds like a cliché, but it's true. How can we expect someone to love who we are, if we don't. I think it's common for people who don't know how to love themselves to want more love and affection from others. They need someone else to prove to them WHY they are special. But that's not healthy.
No one should depend on others because we are all human, and many people let us down. If we depend on others for happiness, what happens when they aren't there anymore? We stop being happy?
Especially while growing up, we need to learn to appreciate everything we have to offer. Our talents, our intelligence, our beauty inside and out, our personality, and the way we can positively affect others.
Stop focusing on the negatives. When you think about yourself, don't look at what your flaws are, because no one is perfect. We all have imperfections and faults, that's what makes us human. It's time to start realizing what is good about ourselves- what the positives are.
Before we expect someone else to love us. Before we expect someone else to treat us well. Before we even get involved in a relationship, we need to learn to be independent and depend on who WE are to keep us content and happy.