Mr. Bean is, without a doubt, a masterclass in the art of being yourself. Allow me a moment to tell you about Mr. Bean, so you can begin to understand the importance of this tweed-jacketed master of authenticity in a world that tries to bury, suppress, shape, and control you.

Mr. Bean is a character created by comedian Rowan Atkinson. Atkinson has said he developed the character over the course of his entire life, though he didn’t fully realize who or what he was crafting until much later. The true essence of Mr. Bean emerged in the 1980s during an improv sketch night—at none other than Oxford University ( Tolkien anyone?)! Not long after, Mr. Bean made his official debut on British television station ITV on New Year’s Eve in 1990. The show was an instant hit.

So, how did this quirky character, who only had 15 episodes of original airtime, become a global pop culture sensation? I believe it’s because he embodies something universal: the truth of all of us. That’s right—within Mr. Bean lies the very secrets of the art of being yourself. And the world, from Amsterdam to America, recognized this immediately.

But how, you might ask, can this human slinky of a goofball teach us such profound self-help secrets? Isn’t this kind of wisdom typically reserved for ex-Navy SEALs, booming-voiced motivational speakers, and lifestyle gurus who claim to live “optimized” lives? Nay, my friends—nay!

Now, there’s another important thing to remember: to truly appreciate Mr. Bean, much like his amusing encounter with Whistler’s Mother’s painting in the flawless Bean movie, you have to look past the obvious. On the surface, Mr. Bean may seem like a peculiar, bumbling individual who stumbles through life’s challenges with egg-battered shenanigans. But beneath that clumsy exterior lies a kind of genius.

Take this as an example: Mr. Bean breaks his coffee mug—an inconvenience most of us can relate to, especially when caffeine is non-negotiable. And let’s be honest, if you say you don’t need caffeine, you’re probably lying to yourself. But instead of lamenting his predicament, Mr. Bean takes the challenge to his M&M-sized brain and comes up with a solution no one else would dare attempt. He puts the coffee grounds in his mouth, adds water, throws in some creamer, swishes it around, and—voilà—he’s got himself a cup of coffee.

Absolutely ridiculous? Yes. Absolutely genius? Also yes. It’s a perfect reminder to look at a problem or challenge the way Mr. Bean does—creatively, without overthinking, and with a dash of absurdity—because, hey, it apparently works! I do not recommend it by the way.

No matter the situation, Mr. Bean always manages to land on his feet. Is it a clean landing? Rarely. But it’s still a landing, and it always results in a resolution that is unmistakably him. That’s the true significance of his character—he’s not just crafty and resourceful but also unshakably undeterred.

Consider some of his other adventures:

The Exam (Episode 1): Mr. Bean finds himself in an exam for which he studied the wrong subject but cockly bragged in correctly to a fellow student. Instead of letting panic consume him, he uses ingenious (if unethical) methods to try and cheat off his neighbor, employing everything from craning his neck or sliding a peak. But of course, Mr. Bean didn’t realize that there was an entire other math assignment. His creativity was genius but he did not do his due diligence. Once again, very much like all of us.

The Christmas Turkey (Episode 7): Mr. Bean is preparing a Christmas turkey and gets his watch lost inside the massive monster of a bird. Instead of panicking. He geniusly sticks his head inside to look for the timepiece and of course gets stuck just as his girlfriend arrives. He does his best to improvise and hide the turkey while he tries to remove it but fails. In the end, he seeks the help from his girlfriend and together they put their brains on overdrive and use a clever bit of science to remove said turkey.

What makes Mr. Bean remarkable is how he approaches even the most mundane and ordinary situations, which to him, seem like monumental challenges. To watch Mr. Bean navigate his world is to witness someone reimagining life’s inconveniences as opportunities for creativity and absurdity. And in doing so, he reveals a truth we often overlook: the art of being yourself isn’t about perfection—it’s about persistence, adaptability, and embracing the unexpected with a playful spirit.

So, being like Mr. Bean doesn’t mean living a flawless life; it means living a resolute one, where even the smallest victories are worth celebrating. The next time life throws you a curveball, channel your inner Mr. Bean—think creatively, laugh at yourself, and never be afraid to swish a little coffee in your mouth when the mug breaks.