Anyone who saw the Brit Awards earlier this week, or indeed the headlines which followed, will know that poor Madonna fell backwards on stage during her performance.

She said afterwards that she was fine and, quoting the lyrics of the song she was performing, said ‘nothing can stop me and love really lifted me up’. How she managed to recover from the shock and get back on track with the song so quickly was astonishing.

This sort of thing can happen to anyone. OK, not many of us will be in such a public arena with millions watching, but I challenge anyone to claim they’ve not embarrassed themselves by tripping up, be it physically or verbally.

So what happens to you when you do trip, make a faux pas, or whatever? How would that make you feel? Some people I know would want the ground to open up and swallow them because of the shame. Others seem to be able to laugh it off, pick themselves up and carry on as if nothing has happened.

I hope that, rather than laughing at your misfortune, you will find the support of others and will be able to sing along with Madonna that love lifted you up, and that in that love you will find the strength to be able to carry on.