Evan Slaughter: Using the 8 Domains
by Stephanie Barca, LMSW Resident Therapist
Evan Slaughter found his footing in the Physical Domain after a unique journey shifted his perspective. The Eight Domains framework focuses on the ways your values in the Physical Domain influence your health and abilities, and for much of Evan’s life, he did not worry about the shape his body was in. His actions in other domains yielded natural dividends for his physicality as he played sports, lifted weights, and served in the military
That changed when Evan became addicted to opioids, which he used to mask insecurities, anxiety, and stress. He describes his substance use as chasing a “false reality” without the concerns of real life. After several attempts in rehabilitation, he met a mentor who embodied the kind of future Evan hoped for. During one of the hardest seasons of his life — after being revived from an accidental overdose — this man helped Evan begin to “right-size” the weight of other people’s opinions.
His mentor posed a question: Why does it feel like other people judge you, or even think about you, as they go about their day? When Evan couldn’t answer, he came to understand that most people weren’t thinking about him at all despite what his anxiety told him. That insight freed him to focus on the one opinion that mattered: his own.
As he worked on sobriety, Evan experienced significant weight gain as, like many of us, he turned to comfort food for temporary respite. “Addiction doesn’t have to be associated with just drugs or sex or whatever—it can be a lot of things,” he explained. He also began sharing his recovery journey online, sharing the rewards of his sobriety and investments in the Mental/Emotional Domain.
“When I was in the worst shape of my life physically, I was in the best shape of my life mentally,” Evan said. He noted how Western culture assumes people in larger bodies must be unhappy or unwell. Yet at 100 pounds heavier than before, he loved himself and felt more joy than he had in his more muscular past. His authenticity shone through on TikTok, leading to opportunities to travel, give talks, and partner with wellness companies.
One opportunity, however, led to the realization that Evan needed to make new investments in the Physical Domain of his life. A San Diego collaborator invited him to surf. Evan wanted to do it and felt confident in how he looked physically, but he knew his health would make the activity a struggle. Evan jumped in and attempted to ride the waves, but he realized something had to change.
At first, he set goals that will sound familiar to many of us, like losing a set number of pounds or looking a certain way before summer. The deadlines came and went. Eventually, though, Evan redefined his value in the Physical Domain:
“I want to say ‘yes’ to more opportunities that come my way, and I don’t want my physical health to be a barrier to that.”
Evan is encouraging and authentic when discussing his fitness, including the testosterone replacement therapy and semaglutide that fit into the regime he chose to express his values. On Instagram @fit2serve1, he shares a wellness journey infused with humor and joy, traits that have helped him handle challenges at every stage of his life.
Evan Slaughter’s experience reminds us that growth in the Physical Domain is not about perfection but about alignment. Sobriety, weight gain, reflection, and self-love each played a role in helping him define and express what matters most. Today, those values are clear and radiating outward to the world.
Stephanie Barca is a resident therapist at Switchback Counseling, the nonprofit arm of BHC. Check out the 8 Domains Podcast featuring Evan at https://shorturl.at/7Pf9T and Evan’s fitness, comedy, and pickleball at fit2serve.co.
