Ep 51. 3 Quantum Shifts for Insomnia Recovery

This episode is a little science, a little woo, and a whole lot of HOPE.

If you’ve ever felt like the harder you try to sleep, the more impossible it becomes — you’re not alone.

In this talk, Beth breaks down:

  • Why paying so much attention to sleep makes it less likely to happen

  • How multiple sleep realities already exist (WHATT?!)

  • Why working through sleep anxiety requires looking at the whole versus just the part

I loved working on this episode.

Getting beyond insomnia isn’t about doing more. It’s about seeing sleep differently.

And sometimes all it takes in one little quantum shift to change everything.

Enjoy! 🧡

Mentioned Resources:

Ep 1: Redefining Insomnia
Ep 18: Insomnia and the Perceived Danger Connection
Ep 35: Sleep Efforts and Why They Matter

Connect With Beth:

👉 Instagram

Work with Beth:

👉 Learn About the Mind. Body. Sleep. Mentorship
👉 Start the Free Insomnia Course Here

TRANSCRIPT BELOW

About Beth Kendall MA, FNTP:

For decades, Beth struggled with the relentless grip of insomnia. After finally understanding insomnia from a mind-body perspective, she changed her relationship with sleep, and completely recovered. Liberated from the constant worry of not sleeping, she’s on a mission to help others recover as well. Her transformative program Mind. Body. Sleep.™ has been a beacon of light for hundreds of others seeking solace from sleepless nights.

DISCLAIMER: The podcasts available on this website have been produced for informational, educational and entertainment purposes only. The contents of this podcast do not constitute medical or professional advice. No person listening to and/or viewing any podcast from this website should act or refrain from acting on the basis of the content of a podcast without first seeking appropriate professional advice and/or counseling, nor shall the information be used as a substitute for professional advice and/or counseling. The Mind. Body. Sleep. Podcast expressly disclaims any and all liability relating to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all contents of this site as there are no assurance as to any particular outcome.

 

 

The Quantum Side of Insomnia Recovery

Welcome and Introduction

Hello everyone! I’m so glad to be with you on this March day in 2025. If you’re new here—an extra warm welcome. And if this is the very first episode you’re listening to… well, God bless ya, because you chose a fun one!
This episode blends ideas from a few different disciplines, so if you find yourself thinking, “What did I just walk into and what does any of this have to do with insomnia?”—don’t worry. I recommend checking out Episodes 1, 18, and 35 for some more foundational concepts, and I’ll link those in the show notes for you.

Going Into the Woo

But today we are going to have some fun. Because today, we are going into the WOO. Lisa E., from the mentorship, if you’re out there listening, do not be scared, my friend, I’m going to make this as interesting and simple as possible.

But we’re diving into a subject today that is near and dear to my heart and one that I’m so beautifully fascinated by and that is the quantum realm. I put off doing a podcast like this because I definitely don’t want to complicate what is by nature the simplest of processes, and yes, I am talking about sleep.

But the truth is, I live my life day in and day out in a very quantum way. And I in no way want to present myself as someone who is well-versed in quantum mechanics because that is not the case. But there are a few basic principles that make a lot of sense to me and they have definitely contributed to my own recovery both from chronic illness and insomnia.

So I thought I’d share them with you.

The Next Car on the Train

Another reason I wanted to create an episode with quantum and insomnia in the same title is because I truly believe this is the next car on the train.
What I mean by that is—it feels like the direction we're heading in in terms of our broader human evolution.
When I was doing my thesis study in self directed neuroplasticity, I had the most wonderful professor. Carol Grewig if you ever hear this podcast, I love you so much, you changed my life.

But Carol would always say to us as we were formulating our hypothesis, or at just any stage of the research study: “Is this the next car on the train??” Meaning does it take off from what we already know? Is it the next step driving an idea forward?

Now, doing that research study really was one of the best experiences of my life, but I also faced my fair share of resistance during the year and a half long project.

The study was done in a group, so there were four of us. And I had to sell my group on this idea of self-directed neuroplasticity (and SDN is simply using the mind to change the brain). But my group didn’t really know too much about it and they really weren’t too keen on it, especially at first. And one person even left the group she was so opposed to the idea that this could ever be anything relevant in the world. She didn’t think any of the pioneers that we were planning to reach out to would work with us and the other two stuck with it but I think they weren’t too sure.

But I remember Carol looking at me directly during one of our group pow-wows and saying, “Is this the next car on the train?”

And I felt unequivocally that it was.

And it definitely was because now this concept is so much more accepted in the world and definitely not the radical idea it was only six years ago, which I think is so cool.

And it turns out that all of the people that we were hoping would just answer their email ended up participating in the study. So this was people like Rick Hanson, Lisa Wimmberg over at the neurosculpting institute, Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz, who is one of my personal hero’s—it was just such an exciting thing to experience.

Why Quantum?

And I think that’s what we’re on the cusp of with quantum mechanics. Quantum medicine, quantum computing—all of these are just around the bend in my opinion.

So today, I want to talk about three quantum principles and how they apply to insomnia—because these were some of the concepts that really helped me on my own journey. And maybe something about them will resonate with you, too. But again, I do want to emphasize that sleep is simple. There’s nothing you need to do or be.

What Does “Quantum” Actually Mean?

Okay so let’s dive in and talk first about the definition of the word “quantum.”

When most people hear the word “quantum,” they think of science, or physics, maybe even something a little mysterious. But at its core, the word quantum simply means:
"the smallest possible unit of change."
In quantum physics, it refers to a tiny, indivisible shift that creates a change throughout a system.

And metaphorically — that’s exactly how we transform insomnia.
Recovery doesn't usually arrive in one big obvious moment. It starts with small, internal shifts over time. We start noticing our thoughts and fears about sleep in a new way.
- Maybe it’s the first time you wake up in the middle of the night, or don’t fall asleep right away but your brain doesn’t automatically freak out about that.
- Maybe it’s the first time you realize that you just made a plan with someone and didn’t automatically filter it through how it was going to affect your sleep.
- Maybe it’s the moment you realize that you’re not feeling as hopeless about sleep as you once did.

All of these are quantum shifts.

Tiny little changes in perception that start to rewire the way your brain is relating to sleep.

Quantum Principle #1: The Observer Effect

Okay, so the first quantum principle I want to talk about is probably the most well known and it’s called the Observer Effect.

The core idea behind the Observer Effect is that what we focus on tends to expand. In physics, scientists discovered that particles actually behave differently when they're being observed.
So the very act of paying attention to something changes it.

And I think this applies perfectly to sleep!
Let’s take blinking as an example. Because blinking is a lot like breathing—you don’t normally think too much about it. It just happens on its own.
But then the moment you do start paying attention to it, it starts to feel… a little strange. Maybe even a bit forced or unnatural.

And then, as soon as you stop focusing on it again, it goes right back to being effortless.

Another great example of this is: You could be acting totally normal—just being yourself—but then the minute someone points a camera at you and says, “Act natural,” suddenly you’re like: “Wait… how am I standing? What do I do with my hands? Is this what I always look like?” And just like that, you look anything but natural.

I’m famous for this.

And that’s exactly how the Observer Effect shows up with insomnia. The more you focus on sleep, the weirder it gets. It’s designed to be a passive, effortless process. So the more we monitor it, track it, and watch it like a hawk… the more it starts to morph into something that doesn’t really feel like sleep at all. It becomes more of a performance.

Quantum Principle #2: Superposition

So that’s the Observer Effect which leads nicely into the second quantum principle I want to share with you which is called Superposition.

So what is Superposition? Well, I’m so glad you asked…

Superposition is one of those mind-bendy-but-beautiful concepts that says that multiple possibilities already exist — and what becomes real depends on what we focus on.
In other words: multiple realities are already available and the one that we experience is the one we keep observing.

Whatt??!!

Because if we’re constantly tuning in to the “I can’t sleep,” “My brain is broken,” or “This is never going to get better” channel… then that’s the reality that we’re unintentionally reinforcing. Not because it’s more true—but because it’s the one we’re feeding, observing, and rehearsing.

But Superposition reminds us that: Hey… you know, there are these other possibilities out here, too?
The version of you that does sleep peacefully.
The version where insomnia isn’t running the show.
The version that does trust your body.

Those versions aren’t just wishful thinking— they already exist in the quantum field.

And that’s what makes this so exciting. You’re not stuck in a single sleep story. There are infinite versions of your experience, and your brain has the capacity to shift toward any one of them.

Quantum Principle #3: Entanglement

Okay, so let’s just go a little further into the WOO, if you’re still with me, congratulations.

The last quantum shift I want to share is one of my absolute favorites: the principle of entanglement.

I love this one because it informs every breathing moment of my life.
It’s why I’m drawn to the holistic.
It’s why I feel so connected to nature.
And it’s why I see insomnia not as an isolated sleep issue—but as a reflection of the entire mind-body system.

In quantum mechanics, entanglement refers to the idea that everything is connected. Two particles become linked, and what happens to one affects the other—no matter how far apart they are.

So what does that look like in real life…

Have you ever been thinking of someone—or maybe they just keep popping into your mind—and then suddenly, your phone rings, or you get a text… and it’s them?
This just happened to me yesterday.

Or maybe you’ve been walking through a new city, and you turn down a certain street, and you instantly feel an energy shift that makes you pause or turn around?
I’m sure many of you moms out there can deeply relate to a felt sense of connection with your child—like you just know when something’s off.

That’s entanglement. It’s the subtle, invisible thread of connection that runs between all of us.
But it’s not just between people—it also happens within.

And that’s where it ties back to insomnia.
Sleep isn’t a standalone issue. With insomnia, not sleeping is a symptom of the problem, not the problem itself. It’s a reflection of what’s happening inside. It’s a reflection of our thoughts, beliefs, and our relationship to sleep itself.

So it’s not just about the moment your head hits the pillow. It’s about the entire web you carry into that moment.
What’s happening in the mind affects the body. And what’s happening in the body affects the mind. They’re not two separate things.
Everything is connected. And when you shift one part of the system, the whole system shifts.

Recap: 3 Quantum Principles That Support Insomnia Recovery

Let’s do a brief recap of the 3 quantum principles:

1. **The Observer Effect**
Which tells us that the less you focus on sleep, the more it naturally happens.

2. **The Principle of Superposition**
Which says that multiple sleep realities already exist and we have a lot of say in terms of which one we want to experience.

3. **The Principle of Entanglement**
Which tells us that everything is connected. When one part shifts, so does the whole. And I think that’s what makes insomnia recovery a lot more available than you might think.

Closing Words

Thanks so much for allowing me to share this with you today.
Until next time, I’m Beth Kendall, and this is the Mind. Body. Sleep. Podcast.
Bye for now…