It is no secret that a physical routine of working out is healthy and beneficial to your body. Any scientific examination or observation of this phenomenon will conclude that a healthy body is a happy body and vice versa. However, while the physical effects of exercise are usually visibly apparent, the deeper, emotional effects are sometimes less so, even though they can be even more effective and certainly more permanent in most cases.

Whenever I personally work out, it works like a miracle cure for nearly all of my ails. My mum used to always say that working out can always improve how you feel, and I always assumed she meant physically. The reality is that it is a cleansing process of the mind and soul as well as the body. Working out gets your blood pumping and your mind whirring and can knock loose solutions to problems that have been banging around in your head without resolution for a while.

Personally, I turn to working out when I have emotional or mental struggles that I can't instantly fix in my life. My thought process is that if I can't find solutions or I feel helpless in other areas involving big decisions, exercising can be a good physical release for such frustrations. Even if I can't make tough life decisions immediately, taking care of my body in such a positive and results-earning manner can be extremely cathartic and make me feel like I'm back in the driver's seat in terms of control in my life, at least in one area.

Exercising for confidence rather than weight loss is also an important factor in terms of gaining happiness from physical activity. My mum, in all of her continued wisdom, always used to tell me that one should not exercise to lose weight or to look a certain way (even though those are both added benefits in the end), but rather to feel healthier. If you don't feel good, there is no point in looking good. Once your insides are healthy, your outside can match.

Besides, exercise is even chemically proven to be good for your energy and positive vibes. The great philosopher, Elle Woods herself, points out that exercise releases endorphins, and endorphins are those fun little chemicals that boost your happiness levels. It is undeniable that a little extra physical activity can be exactly what your emotional stability needs. And it doesn't even have to be heavy weightlifting or intense jogging. A simple walk in the park or a casual stroll down the street can be enough to lighten your spirits along with your body weight. All it takes is that first step.

All in all, people tend to approach the idea of exercise as purely a form of physical improvement. They often discount or neglect to appreciate the fact that it can be healing and strengthening not only for the body, but for the mind as well.