When Big Wins Don’t Feel Like Enough !!

Last week, a teammate forwarded an image via WhatsApp: it was a customer confirmation for a tech solution we had pitched. Congratulations poured in from all sides. The sense of success was palpable. We had just secured a major breakthrough in a new market.
 
But just a few hours later, the same teammate sent me another message. This time, it was a snapshot of an email informing us that we hadn’t been shortlisted for another deal we had pitched for.
 
In the span of a few hours, my team and I experienced both elation and disappointment, each in equal measure but for different reasons.
 
So, how did I feel?
 
Logically, my emotional state should have been neutral—the disappointment of losing one deal balanced out the joy of winning the other. But that wasn’t the case. As the day ended, I found myself feeling a bit miserable, dwelling on the missed opportunity rather than celebrating the big win.
 
The next day, while journaling my thoughts, I asked myself: Why did I end the day feeling down when, in reality, we had gained a big client that didn’t exist the day before?
 
The answer lies in something Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman explains nicely in his book Thinking, Fast and Slow: we tend to process losses more intensely than gains. This is called “loss aversion.” Our minds are wired to focus on what we lose, even when the gains far outweigh the losses.

I was experiencing “loss aversion” firsthand !!.
 
Reflecting on this, I realized how important it is to consciously shift our focus. It’s easy to let losses overshadow wins, but by being aware of this bias, we can choose to celebrate our victories fully. After all, progress is progress, and every win—big or small—deserves recognition.
 
The day was a reminder of a simple life lesson. Have a sense of gratitude and appreciation for all the good happening daily. Celebrate Wins. It’s easy to get caught up in what doesn’t go your way, but by celebrating our wins- big or small, we can keep the feeling of loss aversion at bay.