Self Empowerment With Bridget

AT 53, a time when leisurely retirement plans are in the horizon, Bridget Menezes found fresh impetus for life via yoga and meditation. Now 69, the former music teacher and currently motivational guru and author tells RUSLINA YUSOFF her secret to happiness and good health.

PEOPLE are willing to pay thousands of ringgit to hear motivational speakers such as Napoleon Hill, Deepak Chopra and Anthony Robbins tell them how to think positive and be successful. But why not try someone homegrown instead? Indeed, we should be prouder of our very own motivational guru – for all Bridget Menezes wants in return are your blessings!

A rare gem, an encounter with her will leave you inspired.

A speaker and a counsellor on topics relating to self improvement, positive thinking and stress management, the charming 69-year-old was a music teacher half her life.

She had “no idea” then that she would be bringing sunshine and strength into other people’s lives. Once a newspaper columnist, she has a self- empowerment series on Radio 4 these days.

The Goan-born Bridget recently launched her first book entitled Self Empowerment. It’s a compilation of 700 pieces of her writings, though she humbly says she never knew she could write.

After all, she never did like replying letters, even losing a lot of her friends because of that! As for reading, she recalls never completing a single book… well, not until she picked up a book by Prjapita Brahma, the founder of Raja Yoga.

The story touched her heart. She started to explore the mystical and fascinating world of meditation. She was 53 then.

She says that people are so obsessed with the world outside that they forget the world inside.

“When you explore the world inside, you are able to see and realise your true worth. Then you will know your strengths and weaknesses.”

She believes strongly in meditation. “Meditation is when we silence the chattering of our mind. It is then we can truly hear what is in our heart. In silence we slow down our thoughts and put quality into our thinking. This will be reflected into our words and actions.”

She says meditation is not being selfindulgent. “It is time spent organising our inner self which gains clarity and fulfilment,” she says.

Bridget only sleep for four hours every day, getting up at about four in the morning to meditate. She also meditates at other suitable times of the day.

She is the fifth child in a family of seven. Her father, C.B. Gomes, was a musician in Kuala Lumpur who taught personalities such as Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali. Her mother, Rosemary Remedio, was also a musician and singer.

Bridget herself is skilled in playing the piano and the organ. When she was nine years old, she often took the place of her father, when he had to go to India, by teaching music to elderly women.

As for her book, Bridget says she is not out to make profits.

“Apply what I advocate and see the difference in your life. When you are happy, bless me. That’s all I ask.”

Bridget says she renounced all her worldly possessions 15 years ago.

“Blessings will always outweigh the importance of money.”

She believes that blessings contributed to her good health and good memory. How else can one explain the fact that she has never seen a doctor for the past two decades and that her vision is still good?

“Some people say they will be happy if they have a million ringgit. But when they do have a million, they will want more. Desires are like shadows. They follow you everywhere.”

“People may be affluent today but they are poor in spiritual wealth, which to me is the king of all wealth.”

Bridget’s circle of friends includes the Prime Minister’s wife, Datin Seri Endon Mahmood, who was the prime mover in getting her to publish the book.

Right now, life is “heaven” for Bridget and every day is a reason for celebration.

“Never say that you can never change. My life changed at 53. If I can do it, why can’t you?” asks Bridget.

The trouble with the world, she adds, is that people expect others to change “while they are the ones who should change”.

“If somebody has done you wrong, always try to forgive them. It’s a mistake to think that forgiveness is a gift to the other person but actually, it is a gift we give ourselves.

“Concentrate on changing yourself and good things will happen. You will feel better about yourself and start to have positive feelings.

“There must also be tolerance. It is only the weak who cannot see that diversity and differences also have their place in life.”

Can one person change the world?

Bridget firmly says: “Why not? Doing a good deed always have a ripple effect.”

As for all the sorrow and suffering going on in the world, Bridget links this to karma, something which man cannot stop from happening.

Her suggestions on how to deal with life’s pressures: “One must learn to bend with the stresses and strains like a tree buffeted in the wind.

“One must develop the resilience of spirit to spring erect again after the storm has passed.”

“We have to learn to make our minds strong by filling it with positive thoughts.”

So develop a positive frame of mind because it promotes healing in oneself. This energy will naturally flow out to others.

But how can one possibly be in a positive frame of mind if, say, one is struck with a life-threatening disease?

For Bridget, a period of illness offers a person space to get off life’s rollercoaster.

“It’s a time to rest and reflect. It brings fresh hope and happiness.”