How about instead, seeing this as an opportunity to make yourself into an awesome man?
If you really wanted to, you could go sleep with an 8+ quality girl within the next 3 months. That's how awesome life is. You'd just need to seriously take ownership of this issue and apply yourself.
Or you could keep whining I guess. But whining isn't as fun as banging an 8.
Learning how to get good with girls is very rewarding and empowering. Not sexually, but for your self-esteem and personal development. The thrill of overcoming your inner whimp is actually more of a rush than the sex.

Hello,
I am a 20 year old college student with only 2 and a half semesters left in my pursuit of a finance degree. I hate it. I am extremely scared and uneasy about the thought of becoming a wage slave. The absolute last way I want to spend my life is in some cubical doing boring and repetitive work that will only get in the way of my consciousness work. This work has become my passion, mostly thanks to Leo. I have begun taking meditation and contemplation work very seriously and I've been reading about 3 books every month mostly from his book list. I have been putting off looking for an internship for quite a while now and it's beginning to catch up with me. My parents are always on my ass about it and I just can't get myself to accept the reality of the situation i'm in. I don't want to work a 9-5 job where all I do is kiss ass and work my tail off all for the benefit of someone else. It is completely unfulfilling. I am not lazy by any stretch of the imagination, I always work hard and do well in all my classes and endeavors but I desperately want to enjoy whatever it is I end up doing.
Does anyone have any advice for me? I'm still so young and have a lot to learn but I just feel so lost and a little bit scared. Do I have to just bite the bullet and join the typical labor force until hopefully I start to figure it out in the future? It's so difficult because when you begin to realize just how deep and meaningful pursuing enlightenment is, everything else seems so petty and not worth my while. I would rather spend my time becoming aware of what my existence means than crunching numbers for some bullshit corporation! Please help, any advice is appreciated  

I'm gonna turn 20 in a few months, any advice?

Yes, please stop reproducing.
Bringing people to the world is imposing your choices on others.  Our way of life has produced throughout history, continue producing now, and will continue to produce in the future a world of conflict, violence, disease, lack, and suffering of all kinds, unless we make some radical changes. The first change we should make is to stop having children.
 
We are slaves, although most people don't know it. Let us stop supplying the slave masters with more slaves. All people born into the world suffer and are exploited in the world. Does society, or individuals, really have the right to bring, for the benefit of themselves or of society, new members of society, even if this act will cause the new members of society much suffering?
 
I don't believe so. We should not do this to our children. We should not give them life and force them, in all likelihood, to experience against their will: physical pain, injury, disease; emotional pain, despair, frustration, disappointment, heart break; bullying, abuse, ridicule, lack, and other negative or painful trials through no fault of their own, given that life is not fair.
In summary, neither individuals, nor society, have the right to bring new souls to this world, because in all likelihood, those new souls will have to suffer much as a result.
Thanks for listening. 
/Makus

You gotta keep in mind that introversion/extroversion is a spectrum. Many people are somewhere in the middle.
For me, I am very introverted and have been my whole life. Yet most people who meet me face to face would think I am an extrovert because one-on-one I can get very animated and go into a deep conversation with some close friend. But I am terrible at small talk or meeting new people because the shallowness of it bores me and drains my energy.
For me, the introversion label fits perfectly. And I know others whom it fits perfectly too. And I also know extroverts who are just the opposite: they go into a bar and light up like a Christmas tree. As an introvert I just can't do that. Small talk wears me out. I need quiet intimate environments, not noisy clubs or bars.
All that said, I can still push myself to go to a bar and be extroverted. It just feels very unnatural.
So a lot this has to do with what feels most natural to you.
Would you rather have 100 friends who you rarely have a deep conversation with, or 3 really close friends? Extroverts tend to have 100s of friends, so many they don't even have time to meet them for more than 10 minutes. An introvert will have a couple good friends but spend hours talking to them.
Of course, as with all theories, categories, and models, don't let it limit you. Use it to deepen your understanding, and if it doesn't help you do that, throw it away. For me it's a handy distinction which explains how I tend to act.

I like being mobile at this point in my life as well. I am gone a lot anyways.
The old logic is that you can buy a home, then the price goes up and you sell it for money, making money in the process. On top of that one's the mortgage is paid off it's yours and now you are set for life as far as having a roof over your head. 
My main thing is, I see this all the time, people buy a house and now it's all about the house. Because that's where a major part of their capital went. 
I think he got a point in so far that it has become something that everyone is believed they have to do now. Another box to check. 
He does seem like a bit of a conartist though. Easy to say for him, don't buy rent from me. 
Maybe buying and Airbnb it would be the best way to go. Stay there when you want, make some money of it when you are gone. 

Get a job and move out. Until then, you're in a coping holding pattern.
It's important to break free of your family and forge your own life. Then you can set all the rules and values.
In your early 20's the #1 priority should be to master making a living for yourself so you are not anyone's slave, including not your boss's slave.

@MM1988 just doing it is its own reward. you gotta have fun with this stuff, man. take a couple weeks off work and live alone in a cabin. connect with nature., hang out with cool enlightened teachers and take in their energy, go on an ayahuasca retreat, go get crazy energy healing that you're not even sure if it'll work or if you're wasting your money, do kundalini yoga, do kriya yoga, go crazy writing down everything you think about your "self," 
it's honestly so much fun if you do it with all your heart.

Whenever I go out I always tend to end up in a circle of friends where theres alot of alcohol involved, but lately its escalated into going to after parties where theres alot of coke involved. Ive done it now maybe 5 times and everytime I say I wont do it again but I can literally feel a disconnect between my heart and my mind when I promise myself, its like I dont believe I wont fall for the peer pressure again. Coke is so destructive and Im literally afraid I might just get a stroke and die at one of my friends places some night. How can I quit these bad habits for good, do I have to disconnect completely from this crowd? The problem is they are super kind people and we share alot of interests in music especially. Please share any advice! And be harsh on me, my lifes on the line... 

Why do you think you havent awakened then? I realize I dont really control how I feel.

My approach really isn't different. It's just that my work is much more holistic. Most teachers teach a strictly narrow path toward enlightenment in the same way that most math teachers only teach math. But that doesn't mean that life is only about math.
See, most enlightenment teachers won't talk about how to have great sex. Because that's not their specialization. But that doesn't mean learning how to have great sex isn't deeply rewarding and worthwhile. Or that becoming enlightened obviates such learning. What you see with Actualized.org is not me being a nonduality teacher. You see my general passion for learning about life, of which nonduality just happens to be ONE facet. My goal was never nonduality, but living a great life and learning about a variety of cool stuff.
Enlightenment is ONE domain of life. It just happens to be a very important domain because it's the domain of "What is the substance of EVERYTHING?" That's a pretty important and epic domain. But nevertheless, it's just ONE domain. And enlightenment is -- strictly speaking -- no more important than anything else. There is no reason why you should become enlightenment. And there is nothing wrong with you if you choose to ignore enlightenment entirely and decide to go become a potato farmer or an axe murderer instead. Life is free. You can do whatever the hell you like. Just be ware of the consequences.
You cannot derive an ought from an is.
If it's an illusion... so what? Life goes on just as before. The only difference is you understand it's an illusion. You can still raise your illusory children, walk your illusory dog, jerk your illusory dick, and eat your illusory ice cream.
You can be miserable in the illusion or joyful in the illusion. Either way it's an illusion. And it doesn't matter how you feel about it from the universe's perspective. But how you feel probably makes all the difference from your perspective.

I think his popularity has to do with todays modern, technological society which is quickly breaking down all social convention and tradition, which leads to young people feeling lost in the world. A world in which everything is possible is a world in which nothing is possible.
Basically, back in the day, there was a path that young people were expected to take. Learn some kind of trade which runs in the family, something your father or mother does. Or maybe something your father encourages you to do, like being a well paid lawyer or something. 
But nowadays, kids are learned that you can be anything you want, anything you can think of. Which leads a lot of people totally clueless how to live their lives. Because what if they make the wrong career choice? What if I waste my life doing something which I don't like to do? This choice overload leaves a lot of people depressed and anxious. A loss of connection to ones responsibilities and connection.
I think Jordan Peterson reminds young people that life isn't all about you and your little ego. That there is great joy in taking responsibility and offering value to the world. That if we all just walk around aimlessly, we'd all be hopelessly depressed. And society would eventually regress and maybe collapse. He makes clear that there is value in tradition and social convention even if is isn't "cool" to admit that if you are young. Basically he is telling young people to grow up. Because our modern society is actually telling our youth the opposite, stay young, stay foolish etc. And staying young is fine, but not without adding value somehow to the world.

@Damir Elezi
Technology and society backfiring.
TV, Internet, Video games, Social media, Movies, Fast/Junk Food, etc, all these things teaches the brain to be impatient and dysfunctional, craving novelty.
Meditation, Hiking, Outdoor Adventures, Excercises, Yoga, Reading a book, Contemplation in silence, etc, all these activities encourages in "being" and patience.
Whilst technology gives us a lot of advantages it has to be used properly but we can't use it properly and won't, it's immense power to try to control impulsiveness, the devil is in all impulsiveness.
That's why we live in a society now where marriages and monogamy is the bad thing now, out of fashion, and where people do numerous dating and have sex with many people, as soon as someone gets bored with someone else it's swipe to the left.
Might as well get chefs to poke and spit on our food too, people seem to respect their food more than their bodies, most women can handle getting another man's disgusting jizz in their mouth but can't tolerate a strand of hair in their food.
Anyway,you see all of this causes meltdowns and depression in the long run, you reap what you sow.
Gotta absolutely love reality, it will come bitch slapping people who don't tread carefully.
Most people are not even aware of their suffering and dysfunctions, they go by either confused or ignornant to it.

When you meet a girl she become your source of hapìness, you are obsessed and needy so you worship her thinking that this will make her attracted but it's repulsive.
You have oneitis. Dont put your eggs in one basket. Try to meet 5 girls and then you wont end up obsessed with the only source of pleaseure.
The less needy the less friendzoned you'll be, because you'll have options. And remember to take the lead, initiative, and dont hide your desires.
Even if you're shy, virgin, you have to show sexual interest, dont be ashamed.

@Star Net
A) Careful with projecting onto others. Some people here are applying a lot. You just don't see it. The most serious people here don't post often.
B) Of course, this is a discussion forum. It's not designed for applying, it's designed for discussion. Applying is something you do on your own, outside the forum.
C) This problem is not particular this forum, or forums at large. Application is a problem for everyone, everywhere. Because execution is the hardest part of any project.

1. You have no proof of that analogy, I would like to see studies instead of just your words. The awareness can easily be tricked by saying that something bit you. Everyone else with then “grow conscious” of something biting them. It’s easy to fool awareness. 
2. A drunk person is conscious but doesn’t remembe anything after the fact.
 
Just because consciousness is mysterious and poorly defined/understood doesn’t mean we can make claims about more or less conscious.
I see you are using the argument from dictionary, so there isn’t much point in reasoning with you. You claim to have done hours of research but don’t site anything to prove your claims. 
 
The “neurons” fire together wire together is a reductive statement of a the complexity behind neuroplasticity. Practically anything can rewire the brain and the degree to which it can is debatable, but spiritual types like hasty answers since they struggle for evidence.
The effects of video games on the mind seem to be overwhelmingly positive, when not consumed in excesss. But that can be the same for anything really.
Distractions is a subjective term. Just because you find something a distraction doesn’t mean others do. I see no harm in using the internet for entertainment. 
You know you have lost the argument when you start qualifying “fun”. It’s not a waste of time if a person only wants to game and TV. On the death bed they will say “it doesn’t matter anyway but I had fun”. Seems like the only one bothered by that is you and not them.
It seems to me that the people hear are quite dogmatic and narrow for spiritual types. Life isn’t a contest. If people enjoy the time they “waste” then it isn’t wasted. In the grand scheme of things, everything is a waste of time.

Okay. I'm gonna say some things that you might not like. So here goes.

I had a look at your journal and I honestly think you should tone down on the meditation stuff and go bang at least a 100 hot girls. You will love it. Don't listen to people who've never done that and say that this will never fulfill you. They don't know what they're talking about. It DOES fulfill you, especially if the sex is great and the girls are really beautiful and desire you equally. You will carry those memories with you forever while other "monks" are secretly watching porn on their mobiles pretending to get enlightened.

But more importantly, learn the skill that this requires (it's not even about the notches although that's fun too). Otherwise this is gonna drive you nuts whether you become a monk or not. You clearly have some strong desires that are dying to get out. Because you are so young I really don't think it's healthy to just get all spiritual about it and suppress them. That will be trouble down the road. You will die of dick cancer or something.

I say this based on my own life experience. I'm 34 and in a completely different situation now. And I've had enough sex to satisfy that urge (although it's never fully satisfied). So for me it's okay to put sex and all that aside temporarily and focus on other stuff. I see guys my age still chasing tail and getting nowhere in life because they have nothing else. That's the other extreme and equally pathetic as a 19 year old who's meditating for 3 hours per day but secretly wants to get laid, lol
You are 19 for god sakes, go out and have some fun. Get a nice body. Make some serious money online or become a bartender. And get rid of these bullshit limiting beliefs like thinking you're a "semi-loner" who has no "real desire for friendships". It's all nonsense in your head. If you really believe that crap, obviously you have gained zero beneficial insights from your meditation practice. And you have failed to integrate the meditative state with your time off the cushion, which is the most important thing. Start practicing meditation when you talk to some cute girl. That's REAL meditation, not some escape from being a man of the world who wants to be fucking awesome.

Spend the next 10 years of your life traveling, learning people skills, making friends, learning hard and soft skills in life, build businesses, help other people, have some relationships, read, study, grow, learn, fail, break the law if you have to, rob some banks, mug old ladies (just kidding about the last two), do drugs, get in fights, explore possibilities with sex, art, love, careers, different paths and methods and ideologies. HURT yourself. Get some scars. Win. Lose. Love!

When you are 30, do the Life Purpose course again and then you can start thinking about the monk stuff. Otherwise, all the meditation in the world will not do shit for you. And even if you become a monk, your life will be completely wasted because how can you communicate with anyone when you don't know shit about shit. You won't help anyone become more conscious like that.

You reached out for a reason. What you have been doing until now is not working otherwise you wouldn't be reading this. Think about your life long term. When you're 80 and sitting down to write your life story, you want some good material to work with

Now go out into the world, abandon your current "identity" and fail. Embarrass yourself. Degrade yourself. Just fucking destroy that SELF you have worked so hard at building and are so desperately trying to transcend with your 3 hour meditations, lol. Be someone else for a few years.

You are nothing. You are nobody. You know nothing. You are a baby bird flapping it's wings trying to fly.

You can thank me later although if you are anything like me when I was 19, you will ignore everything I just said and even all the Life Purpose courses or spiritual masterpiece books in the world will never help you because you are so stubborn. 

It's 2017. I honestly think the monks and nuns and other religious idiots are the most deluded people on this planet especially if they have no real life experience. Zero contribution besides their little village or commune (and yes I've been to some like Plum Village in Thailand which is awesome but I felt really bad for all the young aspiring monks especially when I saw all the cute nuns there!!). They are not happy, just dumb and ignorant in their own little worlds. And uneducated and getting a terribly lopsided, unbalanced view of the world. If that is what you want, go for it.

I wish you well brother regardless of what you decide. Let me know how it goes.

 

I don't know about you guys, but I came into contact with self help material (Pick up advice at the start) at a young age, and I don't think it did me any favours. I honestly just got addicted to those videos and lost touch with being. Have you ever felt like all this Self Help Theory is worthless? It sounds good but at the end of your day you stay the same. It is basicly just another distraction and all you need to know, you will learn it by yourself. I am curious if anyone also feels this way! Let me know!

@Leo Gura I want to gain muscle. The only way of eating I’ve ever really used is 2 sandwiches in the morning, 6 in the afternoon and 2 sandwiches + fruit later in the afternoon. 
What could I replace bread with? It’s something so ingrained in my culture to eat sandwiches throughout the day. Gain muscle but at the same time eat clean so that I can have a clear mind for consciouness work. Is this possible?

Everyone knows that sleeping well increase your energy level of your days, but it is far FAR MORE IMPORTANT than just that ...
Sleeping well will improve your brain and heart health, your immune system, creativity, and vitality.
Not only that, but it will also boost your productivity, your emotional balance, and even your weight.
It is by far the most important habit to have in place, because everything else depend of it.