Stress comes from outside of us, (triggering people or events), but also from inside of us depending if we allow ourselves to be affected by an outside stimulus.

For example, two married men may see a good-looking woman. The first man has a lot of stress as he fantasizes about an affair. He is wrestling about getting involved. The second man has settled his internal values. He says, "She is really attractive, but I’ve made the commitment to God, myself, and my wife that I will be a ‘one-woman man.’" He hardly experiences stress. He sees a woman as good-looking, but his settled internal values reduce stress.

Inner attitudes can magnify or reduce stress. We may not be able to control triggering people or events, but we don't have to let those circumstances stress us.