This has to be the best article I've read on how to develop love for ourselves.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...yourself-first

I'm especially fond of how the author points out how our ability to love ourselves is affected by our relationships:


I've bolded the part that I think relates very much to myself. The author gives the example of a dog with a shock collar; we can see freedom past the invisible fence, but if we cross it we get shocked. Therefore, if we are berated whenever we love ourselves, then we start to just stay in our yard so we don't deal with the pain.

It's an interesting read and one I'm working on contemplating.