50mm - not getting it

i've been in DC the past few days and I only have a 50mm/1.8 lens and i just.. can't seem to get this focal length! my phone with a 26mm lens takes, in my opinion, better compositions than i can muster on my camera. everything feels cramped, but nothing emphasized. it's a deeply uncomfortable focal length; i center things meticulously and overthink my placement and physical positioning to try and compensate. i just can't get it!

has anyone else ran into this issue with 50mm? have you overcome it? and, if you have, how?