Ocean, sunshine, children and flowers with Tessa James

Tessa James is a mum, entrepreneur and media personality. Originally an actress, Tessa starred in popular TV series Home and Away and Neighbours. She relocated to Los Angeles for opportunities in Hollywood before a life-altering cancer diagnosis at just 23 brought her home to Australia. Since becoming cancer-free, Tessa has welcomed four children and pursued business ventures across wellness and design, recently founding AKI Interior Architects with her mum Charis and sister Candyce.

Tessa’s mission is to inspire women to embrace the rawness of motherhood, while creating space for their own selves. We asked her to tell us how nature fits into her busy life:

What’s your favorite thing to do in nature?

Spending time with my kids exploring and feeling free. The ocean is our favourite place, running around barefoot on the grass is also something we love to do when we can’t get to the ocean.

How does spending time in nature influence your mental health? Can you think of a specific experience where this effect was particularly strong?

Personally I love exercising out in nature, running on a crisp morning is one of my favourite things to clear my mind. When I am simply feeling overwhelmed or need to take a break I love stepping outside, closing my eyes, taking a deep breath and allowing the sun to hit my face and re-energise me.

What role do natural environments play in shaping human identity and sense of self?

Nature is pretty incredible; it can guide and teach us so much. For now I see nature through my children’s eyes and it’s so remarkable what they discover and how the simple things are magic to them. Nature allows the mind to be free and the imagination to run wild.

Do you believe nature has a consciousness or spirit? How does that belief shape your interactions with the environment?

I believe nature has a spirit, I believe it will guide us to where we need to be if we can remain present and be moving forward with the best intentions.

What are your fondest memories of spending time in nature?

Growing up, I was always outdoors, we are so lucky to live in Australia. Some of the best memories I have are riding through Park Orchards where I grew up, and summers up in North Queensland and along the coastline of Australia.

In what ways can ecotherapy practices be integrated into mainstream mental health treatments? What benefits could this bring?

In such a tech-heavy world, being without our phone and silent in nature is a luxury. It really allows us to be in the present moment. The benefits this will have on our children and mental health and wellbeing will be life changing.

How do you bring nature into your home?

We are outdoors as much as we can be, we live in the inner city so we walk everywhere and go to the park more than a couple of times a day. Our children love to pick flowers and bring them into our home or plant them in the garden.

What is your favorite natural scent, and why?

I gravitate towards sandalwood, bergamot, neroli and patchouli: very grounding scents.

Is there an animal or plant that you’ve always felt particularly drawn to, and can you explain why?

I love dogs. They are truly special.

Can you describe an experience when you’ve been made to feel fully—and perhaps uncomfortably—aware of the power of nature?

We lived in Queensland while I was going through chemotherapy and I would swim twice a day, it made the biggest difference to my mental state. The sun and water were a huge help when going through such a life-changing experience.