How do Buddhists let go of wanting to be liked or appreciated?

I am trying to work out some feelings right now regarding some people in my life who have caused me some emotional suffering. I’m really trying to get to the bottom of what exactly caused me to suffer. I understand that it is an attachment to something, and I think that my attachment in this situation may be that I want people to like me and to appreciate the effort that I put towards loving and helping them.

Is there a meditation or a mantra or a sutra or something to help let go of the attachment to what others think of me, and possibly explore more of my reaction when people don’t like me? I want to understand what is being triggered in me. Is it a feeling or fear of inferiority?

I do practice metta, but somehow that doesn’t seem to quite fit here. (But maybe someone can explain why more metta may help?) I feel like I do have compassion towards others but I feel great pain if I think that others are not compassionate toward me. Does this make sense to anyone?

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