Awarded Finalist by Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the best Motivational book category and awarded Top 12 Book Pick List by Spirited Woman. If life can feel at times like a challenging tightrope walk, how do we face life's difficulties yet remain resilient and open-hearted? Rather than seeking "perfect" balance, or tiptoeing on our journey, how do we learn to embrace life and "dance," in order to live most fully? In this book, clinical psychologist and award-winning author Beth Kurland reveals five common obstacles--habits of the mind that get in the way of living your fullest life--and five tools to transform these obstacles into lasting inner resources for resilience, peace, and joy . This practical yet inspirational book draws upon evidence-based psychology practices and what neuroscience teaches us about the evolution and hardwiring of the brain, as well as Beth's own personal experience and her clinical expertise from over twenty years in the field. It addresses the challenges of being human and offers insights on how to bring greater awareness, self-compassion, meaning and authentic happiness into our lives. "This book will help you develop your inner resources, and the confidence that you can find balance and joy amidst all seasons of life. Highly recommended!" --Tara Brach , author of Radical Acceptance and True Refuge "Dr. Kurland provides a penetrating analysis of our Stone Age brain and its challenges in the twenty-first century. Then with great clarity and heart, she explains how to deal with these and be more mindful, resilient, and happy right in the middle of everyday life. Her voice is warm and friendly, like chatting with a good friend who happens to be a wonderful therapist. A useful, beautiful book." --Rick Hanson, Ph.D., author of Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness "Kudos to Beth Kurland for penning an illuminating book. Read it, follow the sage advice. It will open and expand your heart and help you embrace this precious life to its fullest." --Sanjiv Chopra, Best Selling Author, Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School "An honest, accessible and compassionate manual for relaxing the grip of our brain-based reactivity in daily life . . . Beth Kurland illuminates the self-protective habits that make us unhappy, and guides readers in cultivating kinder practices as antidotes to these reactive patterns our brains bring our way." --Mitch Abblett, Ph.D., author of The Five Hurdles to Happiness...and the Mindful Path for Overcoming Them " Dancing on the Tightrope is ultimately a book about hope. Kurland masterfully weaves together practical exercises, personal narrative, brain science, and concrete examples from her work as a therapist to show us that we have the power to change the way we show up in the world. --David Ronka, Presenter, Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, Author of The Flipside of Fear Beth Kurland, PhD. is a licensed clinical psychologist, author and public speaker, with over 20 years of experience working with people across the lifespan from preschoolers through adults. With a strong interest and expertise in using mind-body practices, she is passionate about teaching people practical tools to create greater well-being and wholeness in their lives. Beth is the author of the award-winning books: The Transformative Power of Ten Minutes: An Eight Week Guide to Reducing Stress and Cultivating Well-Being, a Finalist of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the Health and Wellness category, and Gifts of the Rain Puddle: Poems, Meditations and Reflections for the Mindful Soul, Winner of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the Gift/Novelty category. Inspired by the journeys of hundreds of her patients, as well as lessons from her own life and teachings from psychology and neuroscience, Beth invites readers to discover what is possible when they transcend the habits of their mind and awaken to their fullest life.