You might have seen today’s brain teaser in a few horror/thriller movies, but it’s still one of my favorites:

Three possible light switches are a long way from the cellar, with a difficult trip down rickety stairs to check which switch works the single light.

You’re only allowed to make one trip to figure out which switch turns on the lightbulb. How do you do it?

Answer, as usual, at the end.

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I’m not sure…

… but I barely hear people say “I’m not sure” anymore.

It’s all about certainty.

After all, any information is a Google search away.

It’s about winning an argument even if you have to shift the conversation or make logical fallacies.

It’s about knowing (or pretending to know) everything.

Regardless of the topic, you HAVE to know something about it or have an opinion.

Given the context, I’d wager to say it’s now more valuable to not have an opinion on a subject and be comfortable with that rather than desperately trying to fit in with one side or the other.

Being passionate is vital to creativity, but not obsessing over every single thing is just as vital.

The moment you admit you don’t know something, worlds open up. To go all zen on you, emptying your cup is often times more important than filling it up.

Try it out. Pick a day and pretend you don’t know anything (up to a point, don’t be a smartass). Ask people to explain things to you.

You just might get a new perspective on topics you thought you knew.

Answer: turn on the first light switch and wait a while. Turn it off, then turn on the second switch. Go check the light bulbs:

If the light bulb is on, it’s the second switch.

If the light bulb is off and cold to the touch, it’s the switch you didn’t turn on.

If the light bulb is off and hot to the touch, it’s the first switch you turned on.