You both know you want to break up. But neither of you want to do it first out of guilt. How do you approach the topic with breaking hearts?

Staying in something out guilt does not bode well in the long run for anyone. You should approach the subject with the respect it deserves which will give both of you a chance to get closure. The relationship has run its course and you should move on to something that you both need. Trying to work on a relationship and forcing something are two different things and we some time forget that. Remember every step of your life will have something new for you. Allow yourself time to grieve. It is okay to be sad for a lost relationship.

It sounds like you’re both on the same page and wanting the same thing. The sting of feeling rejection can hurt, but neither of you want to stay in the relationship. It hurts more to stay in the wrong relationship. Prolonging a relationship that you both already know is over will cause more pain that both you and your partner will have to heal from later. Approaching the situation with compassion helps- you’re not breaking up to hurt them. People will get hurt either way, so you might as well break up now so you can get in with healing. The anticipation of a breakup can be scarier than the actual breakup itself.