Skill Level Leaps

Do any of you get equally excited and depressed when you break to a new skill level?

Here's the thing: It's wired into my personality to strive for excellence in writing. I analyze, I focus, I imagine like nobody's business to get where I want to go. I want to be better, better, better. It's the hardest work I've ever done.

Then, when "better" comes, there's this wicked-fun rush of achievement.

Followed by the inevitable realization that all previous words gloriously suck.

*sigh*

So, how do you manage skill leaps mid-WIP? Do you go back and rewrite everything? Do you give up? Or do you just allow yourself a craptastic first draft???

The really scary part is I'm still not where I need to be. Other skill level leaps must happen. More WIPs may be undermined by this wonderful/horrible experience.

*ecstatic*
*cries*