The way I see it is that you're doing the other person a favor by being honest in telling them that things aren't working out or that you aren't interested in them. It's a favor because this gives them ability to use their time and energy on pursuing someone else who might be better aligned with them.

Same goes for you. If you're in a bad relationship, you're doing both you and them a favor because you're acknowledging the fact that you guys aren't vibing anymore and should now move on to pursue someone better suited. It's up to the individual to make the right steps toward a happier life and it's not your responsibility when some people don't.

To add to this, I've felt the guilt of dumping someone in the past. I broke up with an LTR of 5 years. She didn't do anything nuclear but I realized that she had too many pink flags and I was beta for most of the relationship and I wanted to try this plate-spinning thing. She cried a lot. Left make-up and tear stains on my shirt. She begged me for another chance. Even after I officially dumped her she would still message me saying she'd wait for me to change my mind. I felt like a complete dickhead and a selfish prick for hurting someone like that who I really cared about but I stuck to my guns and went no contact.

What followed from here is what made me realize that girls don't handle breakups like guys. Guys feel a break-up for months, maybe even up to a year. It's a pocket sized black hole in your chest that adds an inconvenient amount of weight on yourself until it slowly fades away. For women though, they'll feel it HARD at first. It'll fry their circuits. Their hamster will be sprinting and they'll start doing bat shit crazy things like stalk you or get themselves in questionable situations. The thing is though that women are resourceful. After only a few hours you can definitely expect them to start replying to the dozens of unread DM's from orbiters. They'll fire up Tinder. They'll text their exes and even contact their friends exes (pre-selection & bat-shit crazy don't mix well).

Anyways, after a few weeks I saw a few times on some friends stories that she'd be out at parties and she'd always be chilling next to that guy she'd tell me not to worry about. This dude that I'd go to the gym with and I thought was a good buddy to us. I didn't care much but still made a mental note about it. A year later after spinning plates and learning lessons, I met this girl who I began getting serious with. I started posting pics of us on social media and lo' and behold, the ex followed by posting pictures of her and the guy she'd tell me not to worry about in an obvious romantic relationship manner. I had a bad taste in my mouth at first. Mainly because I had thoughts that maybe she'd already been talking to the dude while we were together but I really don't care now and I'm happy for them honestly, BUT, I realized that even though the ex begged me for another chance and messaged me after letting me know she was still there.. she branch swung pretty quickly and she didn't swing too far. A shoulder to cry on is a dick to ride on.

In conclusion, don't do the mistake of underestimating a women's resources. Always expect any girl to have the CC in her back pocket and an abundance of dick only a Tinder swipe away.