From field studies to laboratory studies, we see that winning or loosing an election, gaining or losing a romantic partner, getting or not getting a promotion, passing or not passing a college test, on and on, have far less impact, less intensity, and much less duration that people expect them to have. A recent study showing how major life traumas affect people suggests that, if it happened over three months ago, with only a few exceptions, it has no impact whatsoever on your happiness.

TED TALK, Chris Anderson, p. 74-75