the other day I was feeling bad about expressing needs and had a moment of "oh, I have cast myself as Gandalf", and it felt insightful at the time; it doesn't feel as insightful now but I am going to explain it anyway

The Gandalf archetype is capable and wise, and can solve your problem whether your problem is a giant fire demon or a moment of wavering courage, having both material and emotional skills. Gandalf is seen as important and respected by his peers, but he doesn't exactly want anything himself, it be a little bizarre for him to be needy at anyone. He worries on behalf of the world, and everything he asks of others is what the world needs, that he is simply a conduit for, not something for him personally. He wields and channels forces greater than any individual, in response to threats greater than any individual, and he as a person ends up abstracted almost entirely away.

sorry if you know more about Lord of the Rings than I do and this seems wrong to you; this status is not really about Gandalf :P