"Distinguish relief from elation in high-stakes success Elon Musk, as chief engineer of SpaceX, described watching the first crewed Dragon mission succeed not with joy but with a different emotion entirely: "it's not so much elation as relief." He noted that only after systems were proven over multiple missions could he shift from pure stress to genuine enjoyment. Recognizing this distinction helps you calibrate your emotional expectations before a high-stakes outcome — so you're not confused or disappointed when success feels more like exhaling than celebrating. Source: Elon Musk, Lex Fridman Podcast, Elon Musk"