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The PRP promotes optimism by teaching students to think more realistically and flexibly about the problems they encounter. PRP also teaches assertiveness, creative brainstorming, decision-making, relaxation and other coping and problem-solving skills.

One exercise involved the students' writing down three good things that happened each day for a week. Examples were: "I answered a really hard question in Spanish class," "I helped my mom shop for groceries" or, "The guy I've liked for months asked me out." Next to each positive event, the students answered the following questions: "What does this mean to you?" and "How can you increase the likelihood of having more of this good thing in the future?"

The students who took the program reported more enjoyment and engagement in school. The teachers reported those students were more curious about what they were doing, loved learning and showed more creativity. Effects were particularly strong for students in regular, non-honors classes. According to mothers' and teachers' reports, the students in the PPP had more empathy, self-control and desire to cooperate and assert themselves. Teaching children how to foster their own resiliency, purpose in life and positive feelings can bring "new prosperity" to people's lives