How do I break the news to him?

I'm breaking up with my boyfriend, whom I know very well needs me in his life. He lives a rough life and to him, I'm this amazing woman that can always calm him down or give him something he can look forward to in his life. Of course, I'm not when I'm planning on doing this....I still really care about him, which is why this is so hard for me to do. I just hate feeling like I'm abandoning him and leaving him to suffer.