When you got to work this morning, were you happy, or were you miserable? Try to think back to a day when the morning started off the wrong way, leaving you irritable and cantankerous. What affect do you think that had on you? What about on your productivity? Chances are that your quality of work that day was substandard.

In a study outlined by the Wall Street Journal, an associate professor at Ohio State University found that those who were happy at the beginning of the day generally maintained that happiness throughout the day. Conversely, those who began their day in terrible mood tended to feel worse as the day progressed. This bad attitude actually led to a 10% decline in productivity.

Positive thinking doesn’t just affect productivity, though. Studies have shown that the benefits of positive thinking include being able to more effectively cope with stress, having a stronger immune response, cultivating more resilience, reducing risk of death from cardiovascular problems, lessening depression, and increasing lifespan. Virtually all studies of positive thinking indicate that it leads to a healthier life.

Here at BulbHead, we have come up with 11 of our favorite positive and inspirational quotes to help you get your thinking on the positive track. Check these out, and let us know what you think:

“Every morning you wake up is another chance to get it right.” – Author Unknown

 “There is only one person who could ever make you happy, and that person is you.” – David Burns

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says 'I’ll try again tomorrow.'” – Mary Anne Radmacher

“A year from now, you will wish you had started today.” – Karen Lamb

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” – Mahatma Gandhi

 “We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm, and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharlal Nehru 

“Do not judge me by my successes. Judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” – Nelson Mandela 

“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” – Desmond Tutu

“Never look back unless you are planning to go that way.” – Henry David Thoreau

“Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it.” – Dennis P. Kimbro

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank

Do you have any great inspirational quotes to add to this list? Tell us about them in the comments! We hope you have a wonderful, bright, and positive day. :)