Recent studies suggest that males and females of various species react differently to stress. Instead of fight or flight, the response of females has been described as “tend and befriend.” This is seen as an evolutionary response by females to protect themselves, using their strengths of working together and caring for others. The perception of stressors can often also be different between males and females, with women more aware of the subtler stressors of human communication and feelings. Another difference is that women may focus on the details of the situation when stressed, while men tend to take a larger or more philosophical view. This can cause conflict between men and women, the men thinking the women are lost in details and unable to see the “big picture,” the women seeing the men as impractical and lost in thought.

The Inner Game is common ground for both sexes. We have the same inherent abilities and the same inner pathways of wisdom to develop. In our workshops we see both men and women shift their focus from the external aspects of stress to the Inner Game, with an enhanced ability to build stability and avoid loss of balance. We hope you have seen that, when it comes to stress, you have a choice. You can accept the automatic activation of the stress system, or you can make the effort to respond from inner clarity and wisdom. Each of us has all the qualities we need to have the inner stability that allows us to maintain our balance in the face of life’s challenges. We know that being defined and driven by the stress response will open the doors to illness, poor performance, and unhappiness. But we also know that learning to outsmart life’s challenges and build our stability can help us fulfill our potential and truly enjoy our existence.