First of all, I really appreciate your reply 🙏 Great points, too. Expectations have been an issue for me for a long time. One of the mantras I repeat to myself daily touches on that:

Recently I've also added another line to it, to further emphasize the no expectations idea: "I don't hope for anything" (#1201227)

That's a good one as well. First of all, I do things for me: because they interest me; or they bother me; or I feel I can solve something, or do something better or differently than what's already being done. That's the first step, and it is very important, for sure. You have to take care of yourself before you can take care of others. But, here's another realization I came to a while ago:

Ultimately, one has to provide value to others - to do things that are meaningful for humanity at large. And if I can't do that, then I will also be unable to be a man, i.e., to protect and provide, and sooner or later, I will have to work for someone else, doing things that help provide value and are meaningful for them (and not necessarily for me) or, even worse, doing things that help extract or siphon away value.

Yes. Zoom out for perspective; zoom in for focus. And have faith (something I also touched upon in the piece of writing I linked to above).

Thanks!