Convincing yourself that something you tried and failed to get was actually bad and you never wanted it anyway is a recipe for bitterness and anger. But convincing yourself that what you ended up with was what you wanted all along is the height of happiness!
Most of your life is going to average out, in the end. You’ll find an extra nugget in your 6-piece about as often as you’ll be missing one. Being able to cherish each moment as if it was exactly the reward you were aiming for isn’t self-delusion; it’s self-awareness. Most of those rewards aren’t much different from one another when you take the long view. So cherish what you get, even as you strive again next time.
The Opportunity Machine 