'You'll find someone better': What to say, and what not to say, to a friend going through a breakup

Breakups are hard. Ending a relationship with someone, no matter the length, time or intensity of the relationship, is hard. It's also hard to watch your friends be sad and heartbroken, whether you thought their ex was the right fit for them or not.

When our loved ones go through heartbreak, we often want to be supportive, but also want them to be okay. Loss is, after all, a part of life. So, how do you navigate your feelings about your friend's breakup, and be supportive of their loss? 

"Helping people navigate through difficult times requires sensitivity and empathy," says Shelley Lewin, a Cape Town-based relationship counsellor, coach and author of Uncomplicated Love. Lewin also goes by the moniker The Relationship Architect.