In this day and age of serial monogamy, and casual sex there are many "loves" that come into peoples lives in their lifetime. Women especially seem to need to feel they are in some kind of love before they can enjoy a sexual relationship. (thanks I think to society's double standard of stud vs slut) So: I think when people say they've found their "true" love they are actually consciously in love with that particular partner and are valued as a partner and lover...The past "loves" were just a sub-conscious excuse to justify.
“The willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own life is the source from which self-respect springs.” ~Joan Didion