The single most hardest lesson all steemians (both old and new) need to learn and get use to, is the one you pointed out:
Expect Nothing
...I'm glad you had that one in there. Too much expectation of anything is guaranteed to lead to failure, disappointment, depression, thoughts of retaliation, or becoming evil.
Don't do that.. We've all gone through this stage. "Expect Nothing" is the best mindset to have when you contribute. Rewards are bonuses, not guaranteed.
Good one @hitmeasap
It is truly the mindset you'll need, no matter if you're a new or old member. And I know what I'm talking about.
I had a some crazy support back in the days (more than a year ago), where I published articles and reached insane rewards of more than $500+ and similar rewards like that. - As that was clearly the best online experience I ever had, I started to expect the same or at least similar rewards in the future too. - And I failed, big time, many, many, many times.
Today, I'm still struggling and I reach rewards of anything between $4 and $8, and most of these rewards are due to randowhale, bellyrub and minnowbooster. - Which equals to votes I am paying for.
It's sad and disappointing in some sense. As I'd love to reap more rewards than this... But at the same time, it's amazing and wonderful, because without these things, I wouldn't have earned more than a few cents, just like most Steemians.
People need to understand that high rewards are not something you'll get easily. No matter if you've been here for a year or a day. - It comes down to who you're getting support from and often if you've spent money to buy SP. - Luck is a major factor on Steemit, no matter if you deny it, believe it or ignore it.
I saw steemit, so way differently and i was going to stay earning or no earning. What happened in your case, is affecting many currently who are here on steemit at better times. Sometimes it looks better to start out with limited earning then grow into earning. I tell you, you will get back to where you where, just keep at it, stay staunch
Thank you very much, I appreciate it. And yeah, we will see. Perhaps I'll be struggling around with nickels, dimes or a few dollars here and there for a long period of time... Or, perhaps I'll score a couple of big ones again. Who knows?
That's actually what I love the most about Steemit and my own journey here. That I never know the outcome. I can't rely on the rewards. I never know when or how an article will be rewarded, and that makes the whole thing so much more fun. :)