Bringing Your Soul to Work

10The Emotional Tapestry of Group Life

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IN THE PAINTING La Danse by Henri Matisse, a circle of people with joined hands dance in a ring. We cannot see their faces, yet we do not need to. Something familiar in the image reaches into our core, reminding us of what it means to be part of a circle, to be joined with others—to belong. It is as if the painting expresses a fulfilled longing—to belong in such a way that leaves us free, happy, dancing. This may contradict reality, where “belonging” can come at a cost to our individuality that rarely makes us want to dance. In our lives, we often struggle with what it means to participate meaningfully ...