5. “Promotion is not everything.” Give him a new perspective on life.
“It’s just a part of life. Don’t take it too seriously.” If he seems too depressed about the promotion he didn’t get, it may be effective to lighten his load a bit. A new outlook on life may allow him to discover a new goal to aim for. Just be careful not to sound unconcerned. Put yourself in his shoes and consider how significant his career is to him.