The disappointment you describe is either because your achievements don't actually contribute to your core values or the benefits are short lived. I recommend

The disappointment you describe is either because your achievements don't actually contribute to your core values or the benefits are short lived. I recommend taking some time to figure out what your core values are. Why did you want to start a successful startup? What were you really chasing after? Some superficial answers might be financial security or social status, but you should keep asking why these things are important until you arrive at something that is important just because you feel it is. These are your core values. Once you figure out your core values, you'll find that: 1) The event that resulted in disappointment either didn't contribute to one of your core values 2) The core value that you've identified is partially out of your control, and so, your achievement made you feel good, but it was only temporary. To me, values are the measuring sticks by which people quantify success in life. Whether or not we realize it, we constantly measure our actions against our values, and how we 'measure up' determines our self-worth. Once we actually know what we value, we can either change those values (bc they are too extrinsic), or design our life to optimally fulfill them.