How did you go about getting to know the "harmonical landscape"? Did you find stuff that sounded good first, and then learned the theory behind it after the fact, or did it come at the same time?

I'm asking because I'm having a hard time freeing myself from theory when it comes to composing. Stuck in the same chord patterns.
spend some time at your favorite chordal instrument (piano, guitar, something else, whatever). just spend a lot of time there, really getting to know what the thing can do. also learn all your favorite songs, and then find more songs to enjoy and learn those ones too. soon you will be an expert. get a job as a church musician too if you can