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This Can Succeed: Optimism, Story & Self-Reliance with Angus Fletcher
A Commentary by Victor Perton, That Optimism Man
What is optimism, really? Not wishful thinking. Not blind hope. Not a prediction of a guaranteed win.
In my latest conversation on That Optimism Man Podcast, I spoke with Professor Angus Fletcher, a wonderful storyteller, a leading thinker in narrative neuroscience, and the author of Primal Intelligence: You Are Smarter Than You Know. It was an invigorating exchange, bringing together science, experience, and humanity to reveal the power of optimism and the stories we tell ourselves.
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🔶 Optimism as Possibility, Not Prediction
Angus offered a beautiful distinction early in our conversation:
“Optimism is not 'This will succeed'. Optimism is much, much stronger. Optimism is 'This can succeed'.”
Those three words, "this can succeed," are deeply powerful. They capture a mindset rooted not in certainty, but in possibility. This is optimism as a springboard, not a finish line. It is a mindset that embraces challenge and trusts in our capacity to respond.
It draws strength from memory, especially from those times when we surprised ourselves, when we did something difficult, when we proved to ourselves that we could.
Angus also spoke of optimism in relation to planning. He shared that while planning is important, the most successful people are often those who are willing to abandon the plan when real life shows up. Optimism gives us the confidence to adapt in the moment, not because the original plan was wrong, but because our belief in possibility is greater than our need for control.
It is this flexibility, this willingness to improvise, that turns optimism into a tool for action. You trust that you can figure it out, even if the map changes.
Optimism, in this light, is not a forecast. It is a force.
🟡 The Quiet Strength of Self-Reliance
One of the most profound parts of our conversation centred around what Angus calls a “self reliance exercise.” It is something he learned from his work with military teams who operate quietly, effectively, and without fanfare.
Here is how it works:
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Think back to a time when you did something extraordinary, something that required effort, skill, or bravery.
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Now, imagine that moment is so complete, so deeply satisfying, that you never need to tell anyone about it.
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You hold it in your heart. No applause. No spotlight. Just quiet confidence.
That, Angus told me, is self-reliance.
And that is where true optimism lives. Not in external validation. Not in slogans. But in the inner knowing that you have succeeded before, and you can succeed again.
🟠 You Are the Author of Your Story
Angus said it beautifully:
“The most important story you will ever tell is the story you tell yourself about yourself.”
What do you believe about yourself? That you can change? That you have overcome? That you matter?
Our brains are story-making machines. If the story we carry is one of possibility, strength, and hope, then that is the life we build. And if it is not, we can change it. We can rewrite it.
That is optimism. That is leadership. That is human.
✨ What You Can Do
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📘 Explore Angus Fletcher’s book Primal Intelligence to discover the science behind your own brilliance
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🤝 Connect with me, Victor Perton, on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook or X
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🌍 Join our growing global movement at The Centre for Optimism. You will find conversation, connection and energy among people who believe better is always possible
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