Accomplishment Hangover

"You've already achieved goals you said would make you happy." -Alex Hormozi

One of the most jarring experiences is the hangover after a big accomplishment. You walk across the stage at graduation and hear the cheers from your friends and family and if you’re lucky, they maybe even sneak in a fog horn. Your years of work building up to a handshake and the passing of a diploma from an administrator to you. The promise of this moment is what got you through all the long hours of studying and boring lectures. And in that moment it’s all worth it.

And then you walk back and sit in your chair and wait for your classmates to go through the same ritual. Your cheers have already faded and after some pictures, you’ll take off your cap and gown. Years of work, a moment of ecstasy, followed by a rapid descent to reality. Beyond some pictures and a memento to hang in the office, nothing has changed.

Maybe it’s the hedonic treadmill. Maybe we should be more mindful when we hit milestones. Or maybe diplomas and trophies are just fun things to hang on the wall. Things should be collected but value shouldn’t be stored in them. I love Matt Damon’s perspective after he won an Oscar: