Extending beyond fiction, Naruto’s insight parallels research on mindset. Psychologist Carol Dweck’s work on the “growth mindset” argues that people who see abilities as developable are more likely to persevere, learn from criticism, and improve over time. Believing in oneself is not a claim of perfection; it is a commitment to the possibility of improvement. Naruto exemplifies this: he never denies his weaknesses, but he refuses to see them as permanent. Thus, the quote warns that without this foundational belief—“I can get better”—even disciplined practice risks becoming mechanical, lacking the curiosity and resilience that turn repetition into mastery. [...]
