January is coming to an end. Annually, I rewatch five of my all-time favorite TED Talk videos in this first month of the year. Here, I briefly describe my selection, which is also why I consider them my must-watch annual talks.

Kathryn Schulz: ON BEING WRONG (April 2011)

In this rather charming TED Talk, Kathryn Schulz takes us into an exploration of our often-comical mishaps and misunderstandings. She opens with a humorous personal story (the Chinese character road sign problem on her road trip with friends back in her college days) to illustrate how we usually don’t realize we’re wrong until a lightbulb moment hits us. This concept, which she terms “error blindness,” highlights our cultural fear of making mistakes and our reluctance to admit when we’re wrong. But Schulz encourages us to see the beauty in our blunders, emphasizing that being wrong isn’t just a natural part of being human but also a key to creativity and learning. She invites us to embrace our errors with a sense of adventure and curiosity, reminding us that life is full of surprises and it’s totally okay to say, “Oops, maybe I got that wrong.”

Lisa Bu: HOW BOOKS CAN OPEN YOUR MIND (February 2013)

I absolutely LOVE this TED Talk by Lisa Bu, which is a delightful journey about finding solace and direction in books. Growing up in China with a dream to become an opera singer, Bu faced adult opposition that crushed her initial dream. But she found a new path in the world of books. They weren’t just her escape; they became her teachers, offering wisdom, independence, and the spark to study abroad. When she landed in the U.S., her love for books took a new turn as she discovered banned literature and began practicing “comparative reading” — comparing books to gain deeper insights. She also mentions reading the same book in a different language if one knows a foreign language (me: I love this woman!). Whether it’s understanding cultural differences or redefining relationships, Bu’s story beautifully illustrates how books can open our minds and lead us to new dreams and joys. Her talk is a heartwarming reminder of the transformative power of books in our lives. I know… because I’m a crazy book-lady myself!

Andrew Solomon: HOW THE WORST MOMENTS IN OUR LIVES MAKE US WHO WE ARE (March 2014)

In this inspiring TED Talk, Andrew Solomon shares a powerful mantra: “Forge meaning, build identity.” He opens up about his own life, from feeling excluded as a kid to his journey with his sexual identity, demonstrating how these challenges helped carve his identity. Solomon emphasizes it’s not about the tough times we face but how we respond to them. He brings this idea to life with stories of others, like a courageous mom of children with disabilities and steadfast political prisoners in Myanmar. These narratives beautifully illustrate the idea that life’s curveballs are opportunities to forge meaning and build a stronger sense of self. Solomon concludes with a heartfelt message: by embracing our struggles and integrating them into our identity, we don’t just overcome them, but we also brighten the world, one story at a time.

Elizabeth Gilbert: SUCCESS, FAILURE AND THE DRIVE TO KEEP CREATING (March 2014)

In this heartwarming TED Talk, Elizabeth Gilbert (one of my favorite authors!) shares a heartwarming story sprinkled with humor and wisdom. She talks about the dizzying highs and lows following her hit book “Eat, Pray, Love” (one of my favorite books that I read when it was published almost two decades ago). Gilbert humorously recalls considering abandoning writing for a quieter life with corgis. But then, she introduces us to her concept of “going home” — returning to what you love most in times of both failure and success. For Gilbert, ‘home’ is writing. She reminisces about her early days of rejection and how returning ‘home’ to writing kept her grounded. Her message is both simple and profound: find your ‘home,’ that one thing you love deeply, and let it anchor you through life’s storms. Gilbert’s journey teaches us the power of embracing our passions as our true north, our ‘home,’ where we always belong.

Dan Gilbert: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF YOUR FUTURE SELF (April 2014)

This Dan Gilbert TED Talk is like a friendly AND important reminder that we’re all a work in progress. He gives us a friendly nudge about how we are always changing, even when we don’t expect it. He talks about this thing he calls the “end of history illusion,” where we think the person we are now is the final version of ourselves. Guess what? Spoiler alert: It’s not! He specifically points out how our values will shift over the next 10 years, something we often overlook. Through some really cool studies, he shows us that no matter our age, we’re pretty bad at predicting how much we’ll change in the future. We don’t just change a little; we change a lot — in our values, personality, and even in what we like and don’t like. So, the person I am today is just another version of me on my life’s journey. Change is the only constant!

These five TED Talks will always have a special place in my life. I found a treasure trove of wisdom and inspiration. Dan Gilbert’s talk is a reminder that I, like everyone else, am constantly evolving. Elizabeth Gilbert, one of my favorite authors, reminds me of her idea of returning ‘home’ to what one loves in times of turmoil, which inspired me to think about what ‘home’ means in my own life. Andrew Solomon’s mantra, “forge meaning, build identity,” particularly struck a chord with me, as he showed how personal adversities are opportunities for growth. Lisa Bu’s talk about finding direction in books was incredibly relatable, as a fellow book lover, and her approach to comparative reading excites me. Lastly, Kathryn Schulz’s exploration of ‘error blindness’ is a humorous yet profound reminder that it’s okay to be wrong, as mistakes are integral to learning and creativity. Each talk, in its unique way, offered insights into embracing change, finding resilience, and celebrating the journey of self-discovery. Each talk, to me, is something worth revisiting and remembering.