Paraphrasing from various sources:

"Everything you perceive is a reflection of yourself."

Robert Smith (FasterEFT) says that if someone pushes your buttons or triggers any unwanted emotional response it just means that you have that trigger inside of you. So it's not the other person, it's the references that you have inside.

I've seen examples of that really clearly with my wife and me. Sometimes we are talking to other people and for example she gets angry or offended at something they do or say and I didn't even register it. And then on another occasion it's reversed and I'm the one that reacts.

After we analyze it, we just realize that each of us have different references (memories, stories, etc) so we are triggered by different things. So ultimately it's not about other people it's about ourselves and what we carry inside. If how others acted was intrinsically bad everyone would react in the same way.

Currently every time that I discover something like a limiting belief, a trigger from other people, etc I try to see it as a positive thing. Others are just reminding me and making me aware of what I have inside and if I don't like it I can change it. If it's something major I think something like: "If I'm able to be content and I have this major issue, how much better is my life going to get now that I'm aware of it and it's going to get cleared?". So I now for the most part enjoy discovering those things, because I know my mood is going to get even better.

As an specific advice regarding your question, apart from clearing whatever comes up with any of the techniques you probably know is to apply The Work by Katie Byron.

Here's a small booklet she offers for free. But I really recommend you read her book Loving What Is. I had it and "wanted" it to read for about 3 years but at the same time had this weird resistance to it. I finally got to reading it last year and it really helped me change.

One of the easiest things to apply that I got out of it was to realize that if I thought anything with a "should" or "shouldn't" I was basically keeping myself from being happier. Ex: "X person should communicate more"

1. Is not my business how X behaves, and I can't do anything about that.
2. I CAN do something about my reaction to it
3. With a "should/shouldn't" statement what you're basically saying is that you would be happy/happier if something changed. Can you know for a fact, a 100% certainty that you would be happier if that happened?. Think for a second about people that are not bothered by this problematic person (for example I'm being triggered but my wife isn't). That helps me to realize that I'm the one believing the should/shouldn't story, I'm the one conditioning my own happiness, and if I hadn't had that I would be just as happy/free/etc as my wife in that situation.
4. And then I'd do the work on the original statement and the one in point 3. Eg: I would be happy if X communicated more".

Give it a try if you feel like it and let me know how it goes. Hope it helps.

I know this feeling very well and struggled with it a lot. One thing that gives me relief whenever I feel disappointed by someone because they didn't react like I expected them to do, is to focus on their positive sides. Even if it is only one positive thing about this person, focus on that and ignore all the other aspects. It sounds quite impossible first, but it gives me some relief. Hope this helped.

Dear Inner Beauty, You may have noticed that we are living in one of those periods of history where human consciousness is being awakened to a new level of awareness. This 'consciousness raising' is all a part of the process that we, as souls, must endure in order to evolve. Many who chose to incarnate during this period of awakening, conscious raising, enlightenment, or whatever else you would like to call it, did so, because they are qualified to assist others through this ordeal.

Regardless of whatever earthly occupation you might have to endure, your primary reason for being here might be to be a teacher, healer, coach, aide or advisor. Anyone who crosses your path throughout your life is potentially a student. These might be friends, relatives, work associates, social acquaintances, or a waitress at your favorite restaurant, to name a few. These teacher souls have been prepared to accomplish this task in a manner best suited to each individual and whenever opportunities present themselves. At times, they might have to give a lecture. Other times, they might need to set an example, offer some advice or lend a helping hand. Even a simple act of kindness, during a brief moment in time might effectively influence the conscious state of another, launching them into a 'higher' dimension so to speak, or at least pointing them in the right direction.

Based on the content of this post and a number of your other questions and answers, I would suggest, Inner Beauty, that you may be one of those souls that is here out of a desire to be a such a teacher. Your heart seems to be in the right place. It may even be your "soul" purpose for being here at this time. The fact that you spend time in this virtual 'faculty' meeting room frequented by teachers and students alike is another indication as well. If that is the case, then I can certainly sympathize with you.

There are, however, some rather undesirable 'side effects' (for lack of a better term) that you will have to endure if you are to avoid the pitfalls of despair that often arise when we endeavor to teach others. The first thing you will have to determine is if in fact, you are one of those souls with a desire to teach or enlighten others in the grand effort to raise the collective consciousness of this human civilization. Consider this as a very real possibility. This does not mean you do not have other reasons as well. The idea that we have only one purpose in life may be true for some. Most of us, however, are multitasking our way to fulfill a number of purposes. The realization that you are here primarily as a teacher (a sort of spirit guide in the flesh), will alter the way you perceive the events and the circumstances that arise each time you endeavor to convey those bits of 'wisdom' to others.

A kind person who helps a friend in need when they are sick may be a good person but is likely to be disappointed when the favor is not returned. It is a reasonable expectation to have. The teacher soul, however, has no need for such expectations. Their only concern is that they give what is needed to each particular student at that particular moment. For instance, you showed by your example, what a person might do when another is sick and in need of assistance. Maybe the person learned from your example. Maybe not. Those who cross your path want to learn. They want to grow as souls.

You need to understand, however, that they may have to live many lifetimes before they evolve to your level of soul maturity. Helping them to get there is why you do the things you do for them. When you come to this realization, you will no long have a need to attach expectations to your acts of kindness since your purpose is not in the particular act. You are not actually helping a friend who is ill. Rather, you are teaching a friend how to show kindness and compassion towards others when they are ill.

As a teacher, you do what you can for each pupil, and then release them without expectation of any sort of appreciation for your efforts. That is not why you do what you do. That does not mean you are not appreciated! You did what you could for this person when the opportunity presented itself. Your only concern now is to stay focused and ready for the next student and the next opportunity to teach that comes along, and then Repeat, Repeat, Repeat.

I do understand, however, that I may be wrong about your personal reasons for being here at this time, in which case, feel free to disregard all of the above and I would only suggest that you continue working on not having expectations.:) Either way, I hope this helps.

your words show expectations
of a return and when not
you have fantasy become
your broken reality

simple because you are disappointed in your self. stop seeking outside and seek inside. once this is solved and that you can be happy and content from your self . then you can be happy and content also on the outside. yes on the outside there is some people not to that stage yet and they will continue to disappoint you it is part of the game as they say. have mercy on them every one is at a learning stage. help them if you can and do not expect anything from them. you do not have to do anything you hate to be look by other as someone good also. because then you are not being good to your self and will not be good to other.

you said it your self:

but I "can't help" feeling the pang of hurt sometimes when I have gone out of my way to help someone when they have for example been sick and unwell, but that when the situation is reversed not a word for them as to how I'm doing! I don't want to stop being who I am, but how can I overcome the feelings of hurt. Perhaps it is a reflection of my overall disappointment of the world.

so you do to much for them or think that you are doing to much for them and view them as not doing enough for you or you think that they do not do enough for you.

then why not find the correct balance so that you do what you can for them with out thinking that you are doing to much? it would be a start to correct your balance and view on things.

remember this one: Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate.