The Joy of Alignment

This is part 3 of a 3-part series sharing Jarrod Matteson's story about why he left his successful career in big law—and why he joined Prasada. Read part 1 of the series here and part 2 of the series here.

Finding My Way Forward

Leaving my legal career wasn’t about walking away. It was about walking toward something that resonated more deeply with who I had become. For years, I operated within the traditional societal framework that measured success by external metrics like title, salary, and prestige. As I stepped into the unknown, my definition of success shifted. Success felt less like something to attain and more like something to embody.

The in-between phase tested me in ways I never expected. The fears, doubts, and uncertainties were real and, at times, overwhelming. As I learned to sit with these emotions, new sensations emerged in that space: ease in no longer forcing myself into a role that no longer fit, expansion in making space for new possibilities, and a loosening of internal resistance that created room for more of me to naturally emerge, with the growing realization that the path ahead, while uncertain, was mine to create. 

I discovered that alignment is not simple or linear:  a single decision or moment of clarity. It’s a process. Big and small choices that one-by-one brought me closer to my truth. The deeper I leaned into this new chapter, the more I felt the joy of living in alignment with my purpose. My mindfulness and meditation practices which helped me learn to sit with the uncertainty, became essential again. In this phase of my process, those practices now lead me to ground myself in my new truth.  I realized that at the core of it all was a simple but powerful commitment: to protect and lead with love and compassion.

Integrating the Past, Embracing the Future

One of my biggest fears about leaving the legal world was that I would be abandoning everything I had built. I had spent years developing expertise, cultivating relationships, and learning how to navigate complex situations. Would all of that simply be left behind?

I can now say that the answer is no. None of it was wasted. The skills I developed—the ability to think strategically, to guide difficult conversations, to navigate high-pressure environments—didn’t disappear. They evolved. They took on new meaning. My mindfulness and breathwork practices provided the clarity to help me see this, allowing me to embrace the transition with more trust and less fear. The tools I had honed to support my personal well-being were now the compass guiding me to shape a new professional path.

Rather than seeing my legal career as something I was leaving behind, I began to see it as something I was integrating into my next step. I wasn’t erasing my past; I was expanding my future.

At Prasada and its sister company, The Infinite Center, I found a way to bridge my past experiences with my present purpose. The connection I had desired aligns with the work I do now to help people and organizations cultivate resilience, connection, and leadership through wholebeing practices. I’m still problem-solving, still guiding others through the choppy waters of life, but now, instead of navigating contracts and negotiations, I’m helping people navigate the inner landscapes of their lives.

And that shift—from external to internal, from transactional to transformational—was where I found my deepest fulfillment. More than anything, it was where I could lead with love and compassion, creating spaces where others could reconnect with themselves and their own inner strength.

The Joy of Authenticity

For the first time in years, I’m feeling a sense of ease in my work. Not because it’s effortless. If anything, stepping into entrepreneurship and the wellness community has had its own difficult learning curve. The ease seems to have arrived with this new release of forcing myself to fit into a version of success that didn’t fit.

I don’t need to compartmentalize different aspects of myself anymore. The part of me that is deeply curious about human nature, the part that finds meaning in personal growth, the part that is drawn to helping others—those parts no longer take a backseat behind another professional identity. They have become my professional identity.

I hope that by sharing my story with all of the doubts, the fears, and the leap into the unknown, others might recognize echoes of their own whispers. Maybe it will be a gentle nudge, a reminder that they are not alone in navigating change and uncertainty in whatever form it shows up for them. If nothing else, I hope telling my story, might offer the courage for others to begin to explore what alignment might look like for them.

As I’ve opened up about my transition, I’ve noticed how often others speak of feeling a pull toward something different. Some are still sitting with that feeling, uncertain of what it means. Others had begun their own quiet shifts, still searching to put words around the experience. What’s clear is that many of us carry these whispers. Simply acknowledging them is a powerful step toward clarity. 

Then I realized, this wasn’t just my story. It is a universal story. The longing for alignment. The tension between security and authenticity. The leaning into the courage to listen and take action. And the truth—when we lead from a place of love and compassion, we create space for others to do the same.

Redefining Success

The more I stepped into alignment, the more I questioned the conventional definitions of success that I had once held so tightly. Was success about having a prestigious career? A steady paycheck? A respected professional identity?

Or something deeper? Was it waking up with a sense of purpose? Feeling energized by my work rather than drained by it? Was it having the freedom to build a meaningful and sustainable life?

The answer is deeply personal. There was no universal definition of success—only the one that feels true for me.

My new definition of success does away with the idea of climbing society’s predefined ladder or racing toward an arbitrary finish line. 

I’m redefining success as an invitation to craft a path one stone at a time that feels authentic. It’s about pursuing work that feels meaningful, honoring my own rhythm. 

And most importantly, it’s about impact—not in the sense of power or influence, but in my ability to show up fully, to lead with compassion, and to create spaces that support others to do the same.

The Invitation

Looking back, I see that every step of my journey—every doubt, every fear, every moment of uncertainty—was leading me here. To a place of greater clarity. Greater authenticity. Greater joy.

I’m not recommending that everyone needs to leave their career to find fulfillment. My message is about listening. Paying attention to what is calling you. Being willing to sit with the discomfort of transition and trust that something meaningful is on the other side.

Alignment doesn’t always mean taking a dramatic leap. Sometimes, it’s about the small subtle shifts. Discovering a new perspective. Choosing curiosity over fear. Honoring your inner voice.

So my invitation to you is this:

Where in your life are you feeling misaligned?

What quiet whispers have been speaking to you?  

What small step could you take today toward more alignment?  

Whatever your path looks like, know that you’re not alone. The courage to change isn’t about finding the answers. It’s about being willing to ask the questions.

If this resonates with you, I invite you to join our mailing list for more reflections and resources on navigating change with courage and intention.