I’ve been thinking about exposure and abundance.

Right now, the only places where I realistically meet women are the gym and social circle. The problem is that both are limited pools. I’m attractive, tall, in good shape, and I’ve had women approach me before in malls or coffee shops saying I’m attractive / asking if I’m single. So I don’t think looks are my main issue.

But I still really struggle to consistently meet girls I’m actually attracted to. Because my number of prospects is low, whenever something starts moving forward with a girl from the gym or social circle, I tend to over-invest mentally because there aren’t many other options.

So my questions are:
Where do you guys actually meet women consistently?
How many new women should a guy realistically be meeting per week or month to feel real abundance? I mean actual prospects, not just saying hi to random girls.
And if the answer is mainly cold approach, how do you make that socially acceptable and calibrated? If I told my friends, or even a girl I was dating, that I go outside alone specifically to talk to random girls on the street, I feel like I’d be judged.

Also, with cold approach, what are you relying on to build attraction that fast?

In class or at the gym, there is repeated exposure. Girls can see your status and lifestyle over time. At the gym, I stand out because of my physique and I’m very social, so I know a lot of people. In class, I get good grades and I’m social. But in a random mall or street interaction, it feels like you’re mostly relying on looks and a few minutes of “game.”
I know game matters, but it also seems heavily dependent on whether the girl finds you physically attractive in the first place.

So what’s the real solution here: more cold approach, better social circle, Instagram, events, lifestyle, or some combination?