When people meet Leide Lessa, one of the first things they notice is how happy she is.

The Christian Science practitioner, teacher and lecturer credits her faith with helping her to find physical, emotional and mental healing after years of “playing the victim”.

“People generally try to find happiness outside of themselves and in someone else,” she said, “but through my study of the Bible and the main textbook of Christian Science called Science and Health with Keys to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, I’ve learnt happiness comes from within, by knowing the Divine, and yourself as the child of God.

“Each one of us in a way is created with this happiness, but it’s something we need to discover. It’s completely spiritual and doesn’t depend on material possessions, on other people, on jobs, on any amount of money in your bank account; it doesn’t depend on the past or the future. It’s something you can have today.”

Ms Lessa was on island this week as a guest speaker for The Christian Science Society, which has been active here since 1930.

The religious organisation, formerly known as First Church of Christ Scientist, hosted an open house on Tuesday. Those who attended listened to a series of lectures and had the opportunity to visit the organisation’s newly reopened Reading Room, at 6 Dundonald Street, Hamilton.

“It was great to see people walking by and to get to talk to some of those who came in for the open house,” Ms Lessa said. “I’ve been in Bermuda before and find the people here to be very lovely, very easy to talk to and very friendly and it’s nice to interact with people that I meet.

“It’s especially exciting that the Reading Room has now reopened, because it’s a place that anyone, from any background or faith, can come to be spiritually refreshed or to reflect. They can think more seriously about who they are and read or study the Bible. There are several Bible commentaries here, as well as great online resources and lots of articles for people to browse. This space is intended to be a blessing for the community.”

Ms Lessa, originally from São Paulo, Brazil, didn’t always have such a positive outlook on life.

Her mother died when she was 12 and, because her siblings were much older with their own lives to attend to, she spent most of the time alone.

“During that period of time, throughout my teenage years and young adulthood, I started to feel a lot of pity for myself because I felt the situation was unjust. I didn’t think it was fair my older siblings had a mother and I didn’t, that I had to figure out my own lessons about adulthood, like what subjects should I study in school and what career path I should take.

“I felt I was a victim somehow, but it was only through this study of the Bible and seeing the examples of Jesus that I was able to turn this thinking around.”

In her study of God’s word, she discovered there wasn’t much information about Jesus during his childhood. It describes his birth and one instance when he was 12 years old, but then skips ahead to the important work he did at age 30, she said.

“I figured out one important thing that the Bible says: ‘Jesus grew with wisdom and grace’. It also says, in Luke 2:49, that even in his younger years he was about [His] Father’s business. I realised from that it was important and vital to start thinking of the things above and the things that come from the Divine Creator.”

After that, her life gradually began to change for the better.

“Through my study of the Bible, I saw that Jesus had every right to feel like a victim,” Ms Lessa said. “He was persecuted and denied by many, but even on the cross he sought forgiveness for those who persecuted Him. This led to a shift in my thought.

“I started being more grateful. I started seeing the blessing in having my mother in my life for the 12 years before her death and for the many other good things I have received.

“I realised for you to succeed in life you have to overcome the victim mentality.

“You have to learn from your failures and every time something happens and you feel lost, you get your strength from God to stand up and go forward.”

Ms Lessa doesn’t get out of bed without praying each day. She then tries to dedicate everything she does — from the way she works to the way she interacts with others — “to our Creator”.

“I do everything for the glory of God and that makes me able to show this level of happiness and energy in an effortless way,” she said.

• The Reading Room in Hamilton will be open Fridays from 6pm-8pm. For more opening times visit Christian Science Society of Bermuda on Facebook