My Artistic Secret

I've been hiding a secret from everyone for months now. I'm an artist who's supposed to be passionate about creativity and originality, but lately, all I want is to copy other people's work. It started with one painting at the museum that spoke to me so deeply, I couldn't resist trying to recreate it. Before I knew it, I had a whole folder of my own 'original' pieces, each mimicking different artists I admire. I know this isn't just a phase; copying someone else's style and vision is supposed to be taboo in the art world. But here I am, stuck between honoring my own voice and craving that connection with other works. It feels like cheating every time I start a new project by tracing another artist's brush strokes. How can I break this cycle when part of me loves it so much?