Surviving Cardiac Arrest, Letting Go of Control & Choosing Self-Leadership with Victoria Gustafson

n this episode of In Heels with Keni Silva, Keni sits down with heart-centered life coach, speaker, and sudden cardiac arrest survivor Victoria Gustafson for a powerful conversation about resilience, healing, and finding purpose after life’s most unexpected moments. In 2024, despite doing everything “right” when it came to her health and wellness, Victoria suffered a sudden cardiac arrest that completely changed the course of her life. The experience challenged everything she believed about certainty and control, ultimately teaching her that true peace comes from embracing what we can—and cannot—control. Rather than allowing the experience to define her, Victoria chose to rebuild her life with greater intention, reconnect with what mattered most, and step more fully into a purpose-driven life. Together, Keni and Victoria discuss surviving a life-threatening medical emergency, trusting your intuition, setting healthy boundaries, overcoming fear, and why so many women lose themselves while trying to care for everyone else. They also have an honest conversation about parenting—why it’s important to let children discover who they are, make their own choices, and learn from their own experiences rather than trying to shape their lives according to our expectations. They explore how letting go of control can strengthen not only our relationship with ourselves, but also with our children. Victoria also shares how surviving cardiac arrest transformed her mission, inspiring her to help women move from self-abandonment to self-leadership and live with greater confidence, clarity, and purpose. Whether you’re navigating a major life transition, raising children, healing from adversity, or searching for deeper meaning, this conversation is a reminder that life’s greatest challenges can become the catalyst for profound personal growth. ⭐ Loved This Episode?If this conversation moved you, challenged you, or gave you a new perspective:• Tap Follow or Subscribe so you never miss an episode• Leave a 5-star review — it helps this show reach more women who need these conversations• Share this episode with someone who needs permission to keep standing• Follow @KeniSilva_ and @InHeelswithKeniSilva on Instagram• Watch video clips and full episodes on @InHeelswithKeniSilva, Youtube, McCordlistTV, Roku • Learn more about Divorce As An Opportunity and Keni’s work at Kenisilva.com