Frisson - A Barometer to the Soul
Frisson is described by the MIT Media Lab as “a physically felt signature of an emotion, a somatic marker.” If frisson is a new term for you, then the somatic marker mentioned above might be as well—but it is simply another term for a “gut feeling.” Frisson is typically recognized by its physical response descriptor: “chills.”
Most often, science explains this physical response as being rooted in emotions tied to powerful experiences. These experiences can range from movies and music to a moving speech. As humans, what we often focus on is just that—the physical response—but why? It’s not as though we are actively trying to manifest a reaction. And if the physical response were something as simple as being tied to emotion, then why aren’t we constantly covered in goosebumps? Let’s face it: we live in a world steeped in emotion. So as an emotional person, I would like to explore the explanation that resonates with me the most.
What I feel science may be missing is something we are still unable to see or measure within the confines of modern understanding: the soul. What I offer is this—frisson occurs when your soul resonates with a specific point of input you are experiencing. This would explain the situational nature of the phenomenon. Why would a song incite chills at one moment and not another? Why would a moving speech or a climactic point in a movie fail to give you chills at one time, yet do so later in life?
The answer, at least in my mind, comes down to each individual soul and where you are on your journey. When you view it through this lens, it explains why you are affected at certain times and not others. For example, let’s hypothesize that you are listening to “Something to Remind You” by Staind—a song you have heard hundreds of times. Then one day, you hear the line, “So when the day comes and the sun won't touch my face, tell the ones who care enough that I've finally left this place,” and your body instantly breaks out in chills. What is different this time than all the times before? My immediate answer is perspective.
Suppose you have listened to this song for years and, aside from it being amazing, it never invoked a response of any kind. Now imagine you lose a loved one, and despite your best efforts to remain happy and positive, you find yourself grappling with death and what you will leave behind when your time comes. Suddenly, you are seeing life through a different lens. This song now speaks to you in a way it never has before. It’s new. It’s fresh. It’s the same song you have heard over and over again—but in a sense, you are hearing it for the first time. This time, your soul is listening, trying to get you to pay attention because your perspective has shifted.
I pay so much attention to these moments now that when they happen, I stop what I am doing and try to focus on what is occurring around me. What was I doing? What was I listening to? What was the trigger that set off this reaction? I pay such close attention because I have found that even when I am not fully immersed in what is happening, frisson can still occur. Despite my divided attention, my soul is observing it all. Once I explore the situation, more often than not, I can identify the trigger. Time and time again, it is an emotional experience to discover what it was that I had been missing.
When we are affected by external stimuli and take the time to observe our own involuntary reactions and responses, we stand to learn so much more about this experience we call life. In doing so, we allow ourselves to step outside our usual comfort zones and embrace change. As we continue to grow and allow our perspective on life to evolve, so too do we evolve. Never stop trying to learn and better yourself. When in doubt, let frisson be your barometer to the soul.
I hope this journey has been thought provoking, and I thank you for accompanying me as we explored this thought path. Now, I offer you a challenge. Take time to look back on your own experiences and see if you can draw connections for yourself. If nothing comes to mind right now, that’s fine—but you will become more aware of it as you move forward. When those moments arise, pause for a minute and try to understand the message you are giving yourself.
When we dismiss our internal monologue, the soul finds other ways to get our attention—and frisson is one of them. Pay attention to it. Listen to it. Allow it to teach you about yourself in the process and never forget…..
It’s okay to feel.
Your emotions are what make you human. So feel deeply, love fully, and never let the music die. It’s the sound of life itself.
