Suffering great injury and loss is never easy, for some it leads to a feeling of despair, and many would spend the rest of their lives trying to compensate for that which they have lost.

Yet not for Martin Worthy, for whom the loss of an eye during his travels in Mexico was the catalyst that led to a journey of self-discovery.

In his new book, Finding what was never lost: and then just giving it away, he talks about the importance of not robbing ourselves of our curiosity, the value of time, and not defining people by what they do rather than who they really are.

Mr Worthy’s life is certainly one lived unconventionally. 

He refuses for example to call any place his home, believing that to do so would be a betrayal of what the essence of life is.

Mr Worthy said: “Passing through life, I’m living out of suitcases.

“Don’t think of things as permanent, live in the moment, be your best self in the moment.”

He has travelled to India, Denmark and France, held various jobs from taxi driver to farmer, all the while embodying his philosophy that life is about constant movement and living in the moment.

It is this desire of continuing to listen to one’s heart that has led Mr Worthy to believe that amongst the key qualities of life are humility, persistence, tolerance, unity and love.

Mr Worthy’s years of travels and meditation have led him to believe that the key to people leading happier and more fulfilled lives isn’t about telling them what to do, but more about individuals having faith in themselves.

He said: “Have faith in yourself, moments for quiet reflection and introspection and listen to the sound of your heart”.

He describes the five days in hospital following the removal of his eye as amongst the weirdest and yet also the most beautiful.

Mr Worthy said: “I made a decision in hospital to eat as little as possible, so that I had more time, so that I could be totally focused on the moment”.

It is these interesting insights and unconventional modes of thinking, during moments of adversity that Mr Worthy believes will leads people to ask the important questions which will ultimately leads to inner peace and joy.

Mr Worthy’s travels have led to him having a keener awareness about that which many lack living in the West.

He said: “People in the East live from their hearts rather their heads. They make time for one another”.

Living in the West means people are constantly overloaded with information and pulled in different directions, preventing them relating who it is that they are really are.

Mr Worthy also believes that people have been robbed of their curiosity, with no doubts as to what has led to this predicament. 

He said: “Letting go of the effects of the media, popular culture, these things are pushing away people’s awareness all the time”.

He wants people to be constantly asking themselves whether what they are doing in the present is best for them, with a fixation on the present moment.

For Mr Worthy this came in the form of meditation, and now he wishes to help others on their journeys too.