Do you keep thinking, "Things will soon settle down?" Well, dream on. Things are never going to settle down. Change, extreme change is going to be with us forever. The world is moving at a faster and faster pace. I like what Will Rogers said years ago. "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." That's certainly still true today.

In order to be successful in your job and guarantee your lifetime employability, you must not only embrace change, but also develop a reputation as one who pushes the change process along. This will make you more valuable to our constantly changing organizations. Here are some techniques to help you develop into a change master.

Learn to expect rather than dread change. This has to do with replacing limiting thoughts with positive, change-enhancing thoughts. "I can't do this," "This will never work," "I just can't learn this" and other negative comments like this are an example of someone who will have trouble embracing change.

Replace them with thoughts like, "There can always be a better way," "Change is necessary to keep the organization growing and thriving," "Change is normal," and "I've succeeded at changes in the past and I can do so again." By monitoring your self-talk, you will be on the first step to learning how to embrace change rather than push back against it.

Recognize the three stages developed by William Bridges PhD that you will go through during any change: endings, transition and new beginnings. Think of a change that you've weathered. Can you identify how you went through these stages?

ENDINGS. Some of the feelings that occur in the endings stage are anger, pain, grief, despair and withdrawal. You suffer a feeling of loss of identity, relationships, control and your turf. Many people experience feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy. They often become blocked from seeing possible alternatives and know intellectually that there is a need for change, but emotionally are unable to let go.

TRANSITION. Here you can experience a feeling of aloneness, confusion, disorientation, distress, frustration and uncertainty. People often categorize this stage with a statement like "I don't know what I am feeling," and idealize the way things used to be. They can be exceptionally cautious in this stage. They experience reluctance and apprehensions but are starting to look forward to what might lie ahead.

NEW BEGINNINGS. It is at this stage that you feel an emerging sense of belonging, excitement and commitment. You find yourself learning new skills and letting go of past behaviors and attitudes that don't fit the new changes. Roles and responsibilities get refined and clarified and you feel new energy and a new personal identity.