“Mindfulness belongs wherever people work, communicate, and care for one another.”
On a cool October morning, a foreman gathers a circle of construction workers for a quick safety talk. Before the day begins, someone pulls out a Building Strong Minds card — a one-minute mindfulness exercise to reset focus and energy. It’s exactly the kind of moment Robin Todd envisioned when she created Mindful Momentum’s tools for the jobsite. She explains how small, practical mindfulness tools can improve not only safety on the job site, but also communication, stress management, and overall well-being.
Robin’s work has taken her from classrooms to job sites, from intimate coaching sessions to podcast episodes heard around the world. What ties it all together is a simple question: How can we help people be more present, resilient, and connected in their daily lives?
Teaching as a Foundation
Robin began her career as a teacher, drawn to the energy of learning and the relationships that form when people explore ideas together. She took a break to raise her three children, a season that reinforced her patience and adaptability. These skills would prove essential later in her work as a mindfulness educator.
In 2011, with her children grown, Robin returned to college to pursue a Master’s in Psychology. She was captivated by a curriculum that blended psychology, neuroscience, and contemplative traditions, taught by Dr. Maria Hunt. What began as an academic interest quickly became a personal practice.
Mindfulness, as Robin defines it, is simply bringing attention to the present moment and experiencing it without judgment or criticism. She saw in it not just a personal tool, but a universal skill with the potential to transform how people work, communicate, and care for themselves.
Mindfulness Where It’s Needed Most
The following year, a medical diagnosis gave Robin a chance to lean fully into mindfulness, meditation, and prayer. She credits that combination with not only restoring her health but also sharpening her sense of purpose. It reinforced her belief that resilience can be cultivated — and that people can grow stronger through adversity when they have the right tools.
In 2014, she founded Mindful Momentum to bring practical, science-backed mindfulness training to individuals, workplaces, and communities.
Robin’s approach is not centered on long meditation retreats, but on integrating mindfulness into daily life: on job sites, in office meetings, or during the commute home. She believes the most effective way to change perceptions is to live the practice herself. Over the years, she has seen mindfulness shift from a little-known concept to one embraced by healthcare, education, and, more recently, the construction industry.
Her personal connection to construction runs deep. A close family member worked in the field and struggled with substance use, an experience that continues to fuel her commitment to reaching this workforce.
“I often wonder if someone had noticed the signs and stepped in, could the outcome have been different?” she says.
Through Mindful Momentum, Robin created the Building Strong Minds card deck, designed to be used like mini “toolbox talks” to support mental clarity and focus. She also developed the Mindfulness-Based Peer Support (MBPS) program, which weaves mindfulness into peer training so that workers can listen without judgment, make effective referrals, and walk alongside someone seeking help.
She believes these programs reduce the number of people who reach a crisis point, creating healthier, more supportive workplace cultures.
Robin points to growing research on mindfulness in recovery, including programs like Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) and Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE). Studies show these methods can reduce cravings, improve emotional regulation, and rewire the brain’s reward system so people find meaning and joy in healthy experiences. “It’s not just about avoiding relapse; it’s about creating a life that feels fulfilling and worth staying present for,” she explains.
A former teacher at heart, Robin considers herself a lifelong student. She reads and researches constantly, staying on top of developments in neuroscience, psychology, and wellness. As a cancer survivor, she has also explored mindful eating, using awareness to better understand patterns, triggers, and choices.
Looking Ahead
One of her proudest achievements is the liveMindful Certified Trainer program, which has certified more than 80 trainers to carry the work forward. For Robin, that ripple effect is where real change happens. “My individual impact is small, but when others share the work, it becomes powerful.”
She envisions a future where mindfulness is woven into daily routines, not as an extra activity, but as a natural part of how people live, work, and connect.
Listen to Robin on the Mindful Momentum Podcast wherever you get your podcasts, and explore her courses at Mindful Momentum’s website.
For Prevention Month, Robin’s story is a reminder that growth is not always about dramatic turning points. Sometimes, it is about the steady accumulation of insight, practice, and connection — a lifetime of moments that, together, build a stronger mind and a more purposeful life.
Share Your Story
This epidemic has given us one common experience: we have all become experts in our own way. At SAFE Project, we believe that we strengthen one another by sharing our stories. Whether you are in recovery, lost a loved one, or are making a difference in your community, you can help others on this journey. We’d like to hear from you.
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