I struggle with this part as well but I decided to just follow my heart and forget about the limitation placed on me by potential monetary rewards. Limits have a way of expanding to meet our needs so I'm just gonna go with it, I enjoy that more. I do still think about it though whenever I click that upvote button, maybe it is affecting me subconsciously, I really can't say for sure.
I don't know how to quote this in the reply box, but this was the section you wrote that resonated so much with me as well:
I understand you have a limited amount of votes if you want to receive curation rewards. This is a very conflicting issue, as I am grateful for every comment I receive on my blogs, and it means more than money to me if something I wrote touched someones heart. I know the power "words" have had when I have been suffering through difficult times. I will always vote for something that touches me, regardless of possible curation rewards, and insightful comments, even on blogs that are not mine.
I think that there are the most REAL people on this platform, compared to othet social media. We just need to navigate our way through hope (acceptance and money) and disappointment (when hours of writing and baring your soul make nothing, not even comments). I'm not sure how to go about it all yet. But what I do know is comments like yours encourage me more than anything else. Ps I followed you :D