I've read so many posts on this sub about people having partners who don't support their desire to live with less.

So I guess this is for them, but also for myself so I can remember these words when I need to. I promise you, you are not alone. And I'm so proud of you. <br><br>As someone who used to be in your shoes, in a relationship where my partner didn't get why this was so important to me. Who used to think I was being selfish. <br><br>I am so proud of how far you have come. Your strength in your conviction, your unwavering resilience in the face of opposition, is inspiring. I was once just like you. <br><br>I thought my partner would never be on the same page, and I felt like I was hitting brick walls and it was never ever going to feel like home because my values had shifted so much in the past few years, and my partners had not. <br><br>I was ready to walk away from our relationship had it continued down the path of clutter and consumerism. <br><br>Because when you are on the path to minimalism, everything else seems in the way. <br><br>The beauty of the world, the beauty of life, my own potential, my own home. My own happiness. <br><br>I felt like my partners attachment to his belongings was suffocating me. It probably did for years. <br><br>And you probably feel that way too. <br><br>I used to think that his stuff was all he cared about. That it was more important to him than I was. Than our relationship was. Than our future was. Than our planet was. <br><br>But the truth is his stuff was all he felt safe with, all he felt comfortable with. <br><br>Because minimalism makes most people wildly uncomfortable. <br><br>It made him feel vulnerable. Naked. <br><br>If he didn't have his stuff to protect him, who would he be? How would he cope? He didn't know. And that's what made him angry. <br><br>Just like you, I had to lead by example. <br><br>I had to show him that minimalism was not something to be feared, but something to be desired. <br><br>It took months, years, many many fights that ended in tears. <br><br>But eventually, he started to see for himself. <br><br>He saw the beauty of our home, the beauty in me, the beauty in life, once all the stuff was cleared. <br><br>He saw his own potential once he let go of the past. <br><br>He felt the clarity, the freedom, the bliss that comes from living a more minimalist lifestyle. <br><br>And he loves it. <br><br>We love it. <br><br>So much so we are now downsizing even more. <br><br>Its funny, the first time I posted about minimalism, I got so much condemnation. Now I get thanked. <br><br>I am so grateful that I stayed on this path. I am so grateful it worked out the way it did. We are so happy. And our relationship is better than ever. <br><br>So, even if your partner doesn't get it, even if they've never been on your page. <br><br>Don't lose faith. <br><br>Keep going. <br><br>Keep the home you want to live in. <br><br>And most importantly, stay true to yourself. <br><br>Nothing makes a person more attractive than someone who knows what they want and refuses to let anything get in the way of achieving it. <br><br>No one is ever happy in a relationship where they have to hide parts of themselves. <br><br>So dont hide who you are. <br><br>Let it shine. <br><br>And eventually, the right person will see your light too. <br><br>And they won't want to ever let you go.<br><br>Edit: Holy moly this blew up! Thank you so much to everyone for your kind words and gratitude. I'm glad I could help people. I do however see a lot of people saying they're going to show their partners this post and asking for advice on how to get their partners on board. While I'm flattered, this post was more about never losing faith, and staying true to yourself, and if that means leaving, then that means leaving. <br><br>Minimalism isn't about forcing people to see your point of view, its about making the choice to live with less, not only possessions, but choices. <br><br>I think if you're going to try and get someone else on board, you need to tread carefully, and come from a place of love, and respect. You need to understand that their attachment to belongings is not something to be judged, but something to be empathized with. <br><br>You need to try and understand where their fear of letting go is coming from. <br><br>And you need to be prepared for the fact that they might never want to live with less. <br><br>And if that's the case, you have a choice to make, and that choice might be leaving. <br><br>So, I just want to say, please be careful! Because I've been on both sides of the fence, I've been judged for my choices, and I've judged others for theirs. <br><br>And I can tell you, first hand. <br><br>That neither approach works. <br><br>So I do hope you try. <br><br>But I also hope you're prepared for any outcome.<br><br>Edit 2: Also, if anyone has any questions about this post, please feel free to ask and I will do my best to help you. I am by no means an expert in relationships, but I am happy to help in any way I can.