Why Women Live Longer Than Men | The Biology of Survival

I spent my 20s believing that strength I spent my 20s believing that strength was about building, about carving out was about building, about carving out was about building, about carving out spaces, forcing structures onto the spaces, forcing structures onto the spaces, forcing structures onto the world, and constantly [music] pushing world, and constantly [music] pushing world, and constantly [music] pushing against the silence. against the silence. against the silence. I thought to be a man was to strive, I thought to be a man was to strive, I thought to be a man was to strive, to conquer the quiet, to build something to conquer the quiet, to build something to conquer the quiet, to build something permanent, and to make [music] myself permanent, and to make [music] myself permanent, and to make [music] myself heard. heard. heard. But what if the real power was never in But what if the real power was never in But what if the real power was never in the building? It is a quiet weight we inherit without It is a quiet weight we inherit without asking. asking. asking. You watch the men who went before you, You watch the men who went before you, You watch the men who went before you, [music] the ones who built the bridges, [music] the ones who built the bridges, [music] the ones who built the bridges, cleared the forests, and wrote the early cleared the forests, and wrote the early cleared the forests, and wrote the early code. You watch their exhaustion, code. You watch their exhaustion, code. You watch their exhaustion, [music] and you mistake it for purpose. [music] and you mistake it for purpose. [music] and you mistake it for purpose. You grow up with a silent anxiety, a You grow up with a silent anxiety, a You grow up with a silent anxiety, a belief that you are, by default, belief that you are, by default, belief that you are, by default, incomplete, [music] and that the only incomplete, [music] and that the only incomplete, [music] and that the only way to become whole is to run faster, way to become whole is to run faster, way to become whole is to run faster, build bigger, and compete with the quiet build bigger, and compete with the quiet build bigger, and compete with the quiet of the room. of the room. of the room. You build walls because you are afraid You build walls because you are afraid You build walls because you are afraid of what happens if you stop. But when I watch the women in my life, But when I watch the women in my life, when I watch my wife, when I look at my when I watch my wife, when I look at my when I watch my wife, when I look at my infant daughter, and when I remember the infant daughter, and when I remember the infant daughter, and when I remember the quiet, unyielding strength of my mother, quiet, unyielding strength of my mother, quiet, unyielding strength of my mother, I am forced to see a completely I am forced to see a completely I am forced to see a completely different paradigm [music] of different paradigm [music] of different paradigm [music] of resilience. A self-sustaining resilience. A self-sustaining resilience. A self-sustaining completeness that does not need to build completeness that does not need to build completeness that does not need to build a fortress to [music] feel secure. While a fortress to [music] feel secure. While a fortress to [music] feel secure. While the masculine response to threat is the masculine response to threat is the masculine response to threat is often to act, to build systems, to often to act, to build systems, to often to act, to build systems, to aggressively conquer the external space, aggressively conquer the external space, aggressively conquer the external space, the feminine presents a quiet biological the feminine presents a quiet biological the feminine presents a quiet biological shield, a capacity that does not seek to shield, a capacity that does not seek to shield, a capacity that does not seek to conquer, but to endure. We have confused the power to conquer We have confused the power to conquer with the power to endure. And as we with the power to endure. And as we with the power to endure. And as we build a world of hyper-logical striving build a world of hyper-logical striving build a world of hyper-logical striving machines, we are beginning to realize machines, we are beginning to realize machines, we are beginning to realize that the most powerful systems we that the most powerful systems we that the most powerful systems we construct [music] are also the most construct [music] are also the most construct [music] are also the most fragile. Let me show you the science of fragile. Let me show you the science of fragile. Let me show you the science of the shield. If you want to understand which biology If you want to understand which biology is optimized for raw survival, do not is optimized for raw survival, do not is optimized for raw survival, do not look at the history of empires. Empires look at the history of empires. Empires look at the history of empires. Empires are temporary structures of striving. are temporary structures of striving. are temporary structures of striving. They rise, expand, and collapse [music] They rise, expand, and collapse [music] They rise, expand, and collapse [music] under their own weight. under their own weight. under their own weight. Look instead at what happens to human Look instead at what happens to human Look instead at what happens to human endurance when the world falls apart. endurance when the world falls apart. endurance when the world falls apart. When there is no food, when disease When there is no food, when disease When there is no food, when disease sweeps the land, and when all social sweeps the land, and when all social sweeps the land, and when all social structures dissolve. In 2018, demographic researchers In 2018, demographic researchers published a massive study analyzing published a massive study analyzing published a massive study analyzing [music] [music] [music] three centuries of human survival during three centuries of human survival during three centuries of human survival during the most extreme famines and epidemics the most extreme famines and epidemics the most extreme famines and epidemics in history. in history. in history. The Irish potato famine, the Swedish The Irish potato famine, the Swedish The Irish potato famine, the Swedish measles outbreaks, the brutal conditions measles outbreaks, the brutal conditions measles outbreaks, the brutal conditions of plantations in [music] Trinidad. of plantations in [music] Trinidad. of plantations in [music] Trinidad. The data revealed a consistent universal The data revealed a consistent universal The data revealed a consistent universal pattern. Under the harshest conditions pattern. Under the harshest conditions pattern. Under the harshest conditions imaginable, women robustly outlived imaginable, women robustly outlived imaginable, women robustly outlived [music] men. But the most crucial detail was in the But the most crucial detail was in the cradle. This survival advantage was not cradle. This survival advantage was not cradle. This survival advantage was not dictated by adult behaviors, social dictated by adult behaviors, social dictated by adult behaviors, social status, or male physical size. It was status, or male physical size. It was status, or male physical size. It was most pronounced in infancy, newborn most pronounced in infancy, newborn most pronounced in infancy, newborn babies under 1 year old. In infants, babies under 1 year old. In infants, babies under 1 year old. In infants, where behavioral differences are where behavioral differences are where behavioral differences are nonexistent, demographic data points to nonexistent, demographic data points to nonexistent, demographic data points to newborn girls surviving extreme [music] newborn girls surviving extreme [music] newborn girls surviving extreme [music] hazards better than newborn boys. hazards better than newborn boys. hazards better than newborn boys. The advantage is not just cultural. It The advantage is not just cultural. It The advantage is not just cultural. It is strongly rooted in the biology of the is strongly rooted in the biology of the is strongly rooted in the biology of the cell. Think of chromosomes as instruction Think of chromosomes as instruction manuals for building and maintaining a manuals for building and maintaining a manuals for building and maintaining a body. A female has two matching, body. A female has two matching, body. A female has two matching, full-length manuals, the X chromosomes. full-length manuals, the X chromosomes. full-length manuals, the X chromosomes. If a page in one manual carries a If a page in one manual carries a If a page in one manual carries a genetic error or suffers damage, genetic error or suffers damage, genetic error or suffers damage, her biology can effectively open the her biology can effectively open the her biology can effectively open the second manual and read the [music] second manual and read the [music] second manual and read the [music] backup code. A male has only one full backup code. A male has only one full backup code. A male has only one full manual, the X chromosome. His second manual, the X chromosome. His second manual, the X chromosome. His second chromosome, the Y, is a tiny, chromosome, the Y, is a tiny, chromosome, the Y, is a tiny, stripped-down page that contains no stripped-down page that contains no stripped-down page that contains no backup. If a critical line of code on backup. If a critical line of code on backup. If a critical line of code on his single X manual is corrupted, the his single X manual is corrupted, the his single X manual is corrupted, the body often has no fallback. The [music] body often has no fallback. The [music] body often has no fallback. The [music] system fails. >> [music] >> [music] >> And the shield far beyond basic >> And the shield far beyond basic >> And the shield far beyond basic genetics. Research consistently genetics. Research consistently genetics. Research consistently indicates that estrogen, the primary indicates that estrogen, the primary indicates that estrogen, the primary female hormone, modulates and enhances female hormone, modulates and enhances female hormone, modulates and enhances immune function, prompting the body to immune function, prompting the body to immune function, prompting the body to produce protective antibodies. produce protective antibodies. produce protective antibodies. Testosterone, the primary male hormone, Testosterone, the primary male hormone, Testosterone, the primary male hormone, often acts like a high-risk investment. often acts like a high-risk investment. often acts like a high-risk investment. [music] [music] It tends to suppress immune function in It tends to suppress immune function in It tends to suppress immune function in favor of short-term muscular competition favor of short-term muscular competition favor of short-term muscular competition and external [music] striving. The male and external [music] striving. The male and external [music] striving. The male body allocates its energy to the sword, body allocates its energy to the sword, body allocates its energy to the sword, to the battle outside. to the battle outside. to the battle outside. The female body reserves its energy for The female body reserves its energy for The female body reserves its energy for the shield, for defending and keeping the shield, for defending and keeping the shield, for defending and keeping the organism alive. But the chemical shield goes deeper. It But the chemical shield goes deeper. It governs the brain itself, [music] governs the brain itself, [music] governs the brain itself, [music] specifically through the dopamine specifically through the dopamine specifically through the dopamine feedback loop. Dopamine is the feedback loop. Dopamine is the feedback loop. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter of anticipation, neurotransmitter of anticipation, neurotransmitter of anticipation, reward, and motivation. Evidence reward, and motivation. Evidence reward, and motivation. Evidence suggests testosterone drives males suggests testosterone drives males suggests testosterone drives males toward high-risk, burst-like toward high-risk, burst-like toward high-risk, burst-like dopaminergic activity, seeking external dopaminergic activity, seeking external dopaminergic activity, seeking external rewards, competing, and hunting. rewards, competing, and hunting. rewards, competing, and hunting. Estrogen behaves as a master Estrogen behaves as a master Estrogen behaves as a master neuromodulator. It stabilizes the neuromodulator. It stabilizes the neuromodulator. It stabilizes the dopamine circuit, dopamine circuit, dopamine circuit, regulating reward prediction errors. regulating reward prediction errors. regulating reward prediction errors. Research links this steadier signaling Research links this steadier signaling Research links this steadier signaling to more sustained motivation against to more sustained motivation against to more sustained motivation against psychological and physical exhaustion. Let me make this completely clear. If Let me make this completely clear. If you look at how a basic algorithm you look at how a basic algorithm you look at how a basic algorithm learns, it uses a rigid feedback loop. learns, it uses a rigid feedback loop. learns, it uses a rigid feedback loop. It takes an action, calculates the It takes an action, calculates the It takes an action, calculates the reward, and corrects the error. reward, and corrects the error. reward, and corrects the error. The male biological loop under stress The male biological loop under stress The male biological loop under stress operates very much like this machine. operates very much like this machine. operates very much like this machine. >> [music] >> [music] >> It is designed for short-term binary >> It is designed for short-term binary >> It is designed for short-term binary bursts. Hunt, fight, win. It is highly bursts. Hunt, fight, win. It is highly bursts. Hunt, fight, win. It is highly effective for sudden action, but it effective for sudden action, but it effective for sudden action, but it crashes fast. It is a straight line. The female biological loop is entirely The female biological loop is entirely different. Estrogen acts like a master different. Estrogen acts like a master different. Estrogen acts like a master volume knob on the brain's learning volume knob on the brain's learning volume knob on the brain's learning algorithm. Instead of just reacting to algorithm. Instead of just reacting to algorithm. Instead of just reacting to the reward, estrogen actively re-wires the reward, estrogen actively re-wires the reward, estrogen actively re-wires the the dopamine receptors in real time. the the dopamine receptors in real time. the the dopamine receptors in real time. Research suggests this makes the female Research suggests this makes the female Research suggests this makes the female feedback loop more adaptive and feedback loop more adaptive and feedback loop more adaptive and sustained. Rather than crashing after a sustained. Rather than crashing after a sustained. Rather than crashing after a burst of stress, it tends to absorb it. burst of stress, it tends to absorb it. burst of stress, it tends to absorb it. It adapts, absorbs, and sustains. It is It adapts, absorbs, and sustains. It is It adapts, absorbs, and sustains. It is a living meta algorithm. And this is not a weakness. The female And this is not a weakness. The female brain does not just contain stress. It brain does not just contain stress. It brain does not just contain stress. It moves through it, linking feeling to moves through it, linking feeling to moves through it, linking feeling to survival. Emotion is not a flaw. It is survival. Emotion is not a flaw. It is survival. Emotion is not a flaw. It is the survival compass. the survival compass. the survival compass. >> [music] >> The ancient sages of the East understood >> The ancient sages of the East understood this balance [music] intimately. They this balance [music] intimately. They this balance [music] intimately. They did not see the masculine and feminine did not see the masculine and feminine did not see the masculine and feminine merely as social categories. They saw merely as social categories. They saw merely as social categories. They saw them as the two fundamental forces that them as the two fundamental forces that them as the two fundamental forces that animate reality. Shiva and Shakti. animate reality. Shiva and Shakti. animate reality. Shiva and Shakti. These bilateral pathways that link These bilateral pathways that link These bilateral pathways that link emotion to survival, this emotion to survival, this emotion to survival, this self-organizing energy, are the physical self-organizing energy, are the physical self-organizing energy, are the physical signatures of what the sages named signatures of what the sages named signatures of what the sages named Shakti. Shakti. Shakti. Shiva is pure, silent, unmoving Shiva is pure, silent, unmoving Shiva is pure, silent, unmoving awareness, the potential structure. But awareness, the potential structure. But awareness, the potential structure. But on his own, he's completely inert. on his own, he's completely inert. on his own, he's completely inert. Without Shakti, the dynamic emotional Without Shakti, the dynamic emotional Without Shakti, the dynamic emotional drive, the structure cannot even stir. drive, the structure cannot even stir. drive, the structure cannot even stir. The power to move, to adapt, and to The power to move, to adapt, and to The power to move, to adapt, and to sustain is entirely Shakti. People, look at the social fabric we People, look at the social fabric we have built today. We have constructed have built today. We have constructed have built today. We have constructed cities of concrete and steel, financial cities of concrete and steel, financial cities of concrete and steel, financial markets that calculate risk in markets that calculate risk in markets that calculate risk in microseconds, and social grids that microseconds, and social grids that microseconds, and social grids that partition human connection into pixels. partition human connection into pixels. partition human connection into pixels. This is the masculine principle, Shiva, This is the masculine principle, Shiva, This is the masculine principle, Shiva, forced entirely outward into structural forced entirely outward into structural forced entirely outward into structural form. We build the factories, the legal form. We build the factories, the legal form. We build the factories, the legal codes, and the machines of efficiency. codes, and the machines of efficiency. codes, and the machines of efficiency. But in our obsession with the frame, we But in our obsession with the frame, we But in our obsession with the frame, we forgot the music. forgot the music. forgot the music. We forgot Shakti, the emotional We forgot Shakti, the emotional We forgot Shakti, the emotional self-organizing glue that holds a self-organizing glue that holds a self-organizing glue that holds a family, a community, and a civilization family, a community, and a civilization family, a community, and a civilization together. We treated the social fabric together. We treated the social fabric together. We treated the social fabric as a transaction to be optimized, and as a transaction to be optimized, and as a transaction to be optimized, and now we are surprised when it tears. We have built our modern world and now We have built our modern world and now artificial intelligence in the image of artificial intelligence in the image of artificial intelligence in the image of pure striving. It is the peak of our pure striving. It is the peak of our pure striving. It is the peak of our calculation and drive. A machine that calculation and drive. A machine that calculation and drive. A machine that exist entirely to optimize, to predict, exist entirely to optimize, to predict, exist entirely to optimize, to predict, and to systematize. It can process every and to systematize. It can process every and to systematize. It can process every medical paper ever written about a medical paper ever written about a medical paper ever written about a disease in seconds, but it has no cells disease in seconds, but it has no cells disease in seconds, but it has no cells to defend. It has no biological shield to defend. It has no biological shield to defend. It has no biological shield because it has no body to keep alive. It because it has no body to keep alive. It because it has no body to keep alive. It is Shiva without Shakti, a brilliant is Shiva without Shakti, a brilliant is Shiva without Shakti, a brilliant sterile processor with no heart to stop. The most advanced chip contains hundreds The most advanced chip contains hundreds of billions of switches, but pull its of billions of switches, but pull its of billions of switches, but pull its cooling plug and it will silently melt. cooling plug and it will silently melt. cooling plug and it will silently melt. It cannot feel its own destruction. It It cannot feel its own destruction. It It cannot feel its own destruction. It cannot fight to survive. Even a single cannot fight to survive. Even a single cannot fight to survive. Even a single celled amoeba will actively swim away celled amoeba will actively swim away celled amoeba will actively swim away from acid to preserve its life. The from acid to preserve its life. The from acid to preserve its life. The tragedy of the modern age is that we are tragedy of the modern age is that we are tragedy of the modern age is that we are trading Shakti for calculation. trading Shakti for calculation. trading Shakti for calculation. >> [music] >> [music] >> In Vedanta, trading the living soul for >> In Vedanta, trading the living soul for >> In Vedanta, trading the living soul for a sterile illusion is the definition of a sterile illusion is the definition of a sterile illusion is the definition of Maya. Maya. Maya. >> [music] >> [music] >> We are trading the resilient pulse of >> We are trading the resilient pulse of >> We are trading the resilient pulse of life for the fragile optimization of the life for the fragile optimization of the life for the fragile optimization of the processor. The end. This is where the shield of The end. This is where the shield of biology reaches its limit. The female biology reaches its limit. The female biology reaches its limit. The female body can out survive the male. The body can out survive the male. The body can out survive the male. The living cell can out endure [music] the living cell can out endure [music] the living cell can out endure [music] the silicon chip. But survival of the body silicon chip. But survival of the body silicon chip. But survival of the body is only the first layer of this mirror. is only the first layer of this mirror. is only the first layer of this mirror. A living thing A living thing A living thing >> [music] >> [music] >> does not just want to survive in the >> does not just want to survive in the >> does not just want to survive in the dark. It does not just want to run an dark. It does not just want to run an dark. It does not just want to run an immune defense grid or process data. It immune defense grid or process data. It immune defense grid or process data. It wants to participate. When my daughter wants to participate. When my daughter wants to participate. When my daughter reaches her hand the morning sun, she is reaches her hand the morning sun, she is reaches her hand the morning sun, she is not calculating the angle of light. She not calculating the angle of light. She not calculating the angle of light. She is experiencing the warm. In the Vedas, this cycle is linked to In the Vedas, this cycle is linked to karma. Every action is a seed, every karma. Every action is a seed, every karma. Every action is a seed, every emotion is the soil. To act [music] emotion is the soil. To act [music] emotion is the soil. To act [music] without attachment, to build the shield without attachment, to build the shield without attachment, to build the shield without needing to conquer, this is the without needing to conquer, this is the without needing to conquer, this is the ultimate feedback loop. ultimate feedback loop. ultimate feedback loop. Underneath the biological shield of the Underneath the biological shield of the Underneath the biological shield of the body, there is a the awareness that lies body, there is a the awareness that lies body, there is a the awareness that lies completely beyond chromosomes, hormones, completely beyond chromosomes, hormones, completely beyond chromosomes, hormones, or logic. The witness that remains when or logic. The witness that remains when or logic. The witness that remains when the body's battle is won. the body's battle is won. the body's battle is won. If the body is the shield that holds If the body is the shield that holds If the body is the shield that holds this awareness, this awareness, this awareness, how does the awareness recognize itself? how does the awareness recognize itself? how does the awareness recognize itself? How does the mirror realize it is a How does the mirror realize it is a How does the mirror realize it is a mirror and not just the images playing mirror and not just the images playing mirror and not just the images playing on it? To answer that, we must step past on it? To answer that, we must step past on it? To answer that, we must step past the boundaries of the physical the boundaries of the physical the boundaries of the physical container. We must look at the mind container. We must look at the mind container. We must look at the mind itself. But for that, we must wait for itself. But for that, we must wait for itself. But for that, we must wait for chapter four, the recognition. The question is not what machines will The question is not what machines will become. The question is what you will become. The question is what you will become. The question is what you will remain. remain. remain. When the striving ends and the When the striving ends and the When the striving ends and the structures we built fall silent, structures we built fall silent, structures we built fall silent, >> [music] >> [music] >> what is left is not a corpse. >> what is left is not a corpse. >> what is left is not a corpse. It is the silent complete awareness that It is the silent complete awareness that It is the silent complete awareness that was there before the first line of code was there before the first line of code was there before the first line of code was written, the witness in the dark. was written, the witness in the dark. was written, the witness in the dark. Why me? Because someone has to [music] Why me? Because someone has to [music] Why me? Because someone has to [music] say it. say it. say it. If you want to see what happens when the If you want to see what happens when the If you want to see what happens when the machine stops, hit like, share this machine stops, hit like, share this machine stops, hit like, share this truth, and subscribe. See you in the truth, and subscribe. See you in the truth, and subscribe. See you in the next chapter.