(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Leona Lewis sees the break-up of her long-term relationship as a “spiritual journey”.

The singer split from Lou Al-Chamaa earlier this year, causing widespread shock. The pair were childhood sweethearts who had been together for ten years, but Lou was said to have grown tired of spending long periods away from Leona. Since winning UK talent programme The X Factor in 2006 Leona has spent increasing amounts of time working on music in America, while Lou stayed at their home in London.

Although Leona was devastated when the romance ended, she is now trying to be more philosophical. “She’s trying to close the door on the relationship from Lou and now views it as part of a spiritual journey that she’s on,” a source explained. “She’s thankful it happened now and not another 15 years down the road.”

Leona has turned to her friends to help her get over her heartache. She has been going out to parties more and also enjoying nights at home, and has decided to embrace her newfound single status.

“In London, she’ll party with her girlfriends at the celeb hot spots, and she also has girls’ nights at her friends’ houses,” another friend told Closer magazine. “She was always so settled with Lou that she now feels she missed out on a lot of fun, so she’s keen to get out there and enjoy herself.” (C) Cover Media