Please note that this is an Archived article and may contain content that is out of date. The use of she/her/hers pronouns in some articles is not intended to be exclusionary. Eating disorders can affect people of all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights.
Let’s Talk About … Pursuing Your Passions With Nicole Hawkins, PhD, CEDS-S
What do you love to do? In a research study by Zawadzki et al. published in “The Annals of Behavioral Medicine”, they found that pursuing your passion both lowers stress and contributes to greater happiness over all. Researchers found that participants who engaged in hobbies were 34% less stressed and 18% less sad during the activities, as well as for some time after. If you don’t have hobbies or passions, think of things in your life that you are good at and you can also work on cultivating new skills. Opening yourself up to new experiences and moving outside of your comfort zone can help you find things in life that truly make you happy. Life is better when we are doing what we love, and it will lead to greater happiness in your life overall. I love my job, my coworkers, and my patients and when I am not at work, I love working in my yard and gardening. This is my happy place and it brings me peace and calmness. Do what you love!
Dr. Hawkins is a clinical psychologist and is the Chief Executive Officer at Center for Change. She is a specialist in eating disorders and body image and has provided clinical expertise at Center for Change since 1999. Dr. Hawkins developed a comprehensive body image program that focuses on the media, diet industry, plastic surgery, childhood issues, and learning to appreciate one’s body, and she leads these groups for the Inpatient and Residential patients at Center for Change. She is a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist (Supervisor), has published several articles, and presents regularly at national and regional conferences.
Center for Change is a place of hope and healing that is committed to helping those suffering from eating disorders break free and fully recover. The Center offers intensive treatment for eating disorders and co-occurring issues, including a specialty program for co-occurring diabetes (ED-DMT1), and provides a full continuum of care: Inpatient, Residential, Partial Hospitalization Program, Intensive Outpatient Program, and Outpatient services. Located in Orem Utah, Cottonwood Heights (Salt Lake City) Utah, and Boise Idaho, serving females in Inpatient and Residential, and all genders in PHP, IOP, and Outpatient. Accredited by The Joint Commission, AdvancED, and TRICARE® certified.
Call Us Today 
