Do you believe that happiness comes from within and that you can't love someone else without loving yourself first?

Hello Fluther :D

I find that these two things are very true but I just thought I would see what others think too.

what made me ask is a ‘friend’ (internet) I have is always talking bad things about himself and they really do worry me. I always making a status about people not caring about him and no one likes me; and so on. I have taken the initiative to tell hm, hey I do care about you, if you need to speak, I’ll listen. But he still carries on about how no one cares (even though I have said that and he seems to believe that.) Hes also stuck on having a girl(s) notice him and like him [maybe girls will like me if I change this and that and etc] but the thing is… he HAS a girlfriend (via internet but nonetheless), who has said she is in love with him. Now I would think that would be enough but I guess not.

Now I know how it feels to be inadequate and think you’re ugly and disgusting and so on. Considering my circumstances it is very easy for me to get lonely (I havent been able to really go out a lot for the past two years). I have felt those things and if I let myself get stuck on everything I don’t like then I become extremely sad. I also have my moments when I get sad out of freaking no where and think I’m better off invisible. Difference is between me and him is that I won’t let myself thinks those thoughts and if I do I pray to God to help me and without even trying I feel much better. I also take pleasure in other things and feel thankful that I have as much as I do; I may not be no where close to what I really want but I know it will not stay like that. I have my habits that I would like to change, but I like myself as a person, and I know I try my best to be a good person and I deserve the best.

I have chosen to be happy. But he really focuses on all the things that suck and looks like he stays unhappy. to me he should do some soul searching and find out more about himself. I (and everyone else that constantly tries to talk him up) can only do so much until he needs to believe it for himself. But other people might disagree with that and think something else may be of help, which leads me back to my questions:
Do you believe that happiness comes from within and that you can’t love someone else without loving yourself first?