VOA慢速英语2021-- “正念”专家帮助展示教孩子减压

‘Mindfulness’ Expert Helps Show Teaching Children to Reduce Tension

When the directors of the animated¹ show "Stillwater" asked Mallika Chopra to be the show's "mindfulness consultant²," she was pleased. Chopra is a mother, businesswoman, public speaker and meditation³ teacher.

Mindfulness is a person's ability to pay attention to the present moment. It is a skill that some experts say can help children learn how to deal with tension.

Experts from the National Institute of Mental Health found that one in five American children have problems with anxiety.

Many children spend time watching animated programs such as cartoons. It was in December that the children's show "Stillwater'' started streaming on Apple TV+. Its goal is to teach life lessons to children.

The main character is a panda that develops a special relationship with a family next door. The story is based on the "Zen Stories'' book, written by Jon J. Muth.

Using beautiful animation⁴, "Stillwater" seeks to teach children to get through difficulty with patience and kindness. Apple employed Chopra to help bring the message of "Zen Stories" to television.

Mallika Chopra has written several children's books and has a new one expected to come out in March called "Just Be You: Ask Questions, Set Intentions, Be Your Special Self and More." She also is the daughter of Deepak Chopra, an expert in alternative medicine and health.

Deepak Chopra is a doctor from India who worked in Boston. His daughter explained how he was very tense and worked long hours when she was a child. But he discovered meditation and was able to change. Mallika Chopra started meditating⁵ at the age of nine and is professionally experienced in it.

Mallika Chopra helped support the show by offering her special knowledge. "They have done the most incredible job of storytelling and building characters and then sharing the lessons in this way...It's joyful⁶ and really magical," Chopra said.

Rob Hoegee is the show's executive producer and writer. He says Chopra helps the show better connect with preschool children and their needs and to explain what mindfulness is.

The producers aim to teach skills in the show like breathing deeply and how to find inner calmness in nature. Chopra says the show is a great tool to help children experience the moment.

This year, Chopra has also been trying to help others deal with the realities of COVID-19. She has been supporting people to become more at ease with the unknown.

"What I can offer is just moments where we can connect through breaths, be accepting of anger, frustration⁷, and fear with our kids...But we, as parents, are feeling that as well," Chopra said.

The long-term effects of stay-at-home orders to stop the spread of the coronavirus concern Chopra. The mental health of adults and especially children is being affected⁸.

"These are wisdom traditions which have lasted thousands of years," Chopra said. "We tell our kids to take a deep breath in and out, to stop for a moment, we see how they can self-regulate better."

Chopra surprises people when she admits that she does not meditate⁹ regularly. But she often returns to it when she needs it most.

"We all get angry and frustrated¹⁰ and need to let things go," she said. "But it's just when you have a technique... we know how to communicate better, have more empathy and compassion¹¹ naturally."

Words in This Story

animated – adj. produced by a series of drawings or pictures that appear to be moving; made into a cartoon

consultant – n. an advisor¹²

streaming – v. playing continuously as data is sent over the internet

frustration – n. a feeling of displeasure, unhappiness or anger because you are not able to do what you would like to do

self-regulate – v. to control oneself

empathy – n. the ability to share someone's feelings

meditation –n. spending quiet time in thought

lesson –n. something learned through experience

alternative –adj. not traditional or usual

incredible –adj. very good, difficult to believe

1 animated   

adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的

参考例句：

• His observations gave rise to an animated and lively discussion.他的言论引起了一场气氛热烈而活跃的讨论。
• We had an animated discussion over current events last evening.昨天晚上我们热烈地讨论时事。

2 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

3 meditation   

n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录

参考例句：

• This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。
• I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。

4 animation   

n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作

参考例句：

• They are full of animation as they talked about their childhood.当他们谈及童年的往事时都非常兴奋。
• The animation of China made a great progress.中国的卡通片制作取得很大发展。

5 meditating   

a.沉思的，冥想的

参考例句：

• They were meditating revenge. 他们在谋划进行报复。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics. 这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

6 joyful   

adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的

参考例句：

• She was joyful of her good result of the scientific experiments.她为自己的科学实验取得好成果而高兴。
• They were singing and dancing to celebrate this joyful occasion.他们唱着、跳着庆祝这令人欢乐的时刻。

7 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

8 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

9 meditate   

v.想，考虑，（尤指宗教上的）沉思，冥想

参考例句：

• It is important to meditate on the meaning of life.思考人生的意义很重要。
• I was meditating,and reached a higher state of consciousness.我在冥想，并进入了一个更高的意识境界。

10 frustrated   

adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
• The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 compassion   

n.同情，怜悯

参考例句：

• He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
• Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。

12 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。