yes, i can talk myself out of anything.
with social activities, i'll often initially agree to go and i'll be excited about getting out there and doing something, and then the closer it gets to the day of the event, the more i freak out. i'm usually very stressed out on the actual day. sometimes i cancel, sometimes not. if i go i usually end up having a good time. the only exception to that--and i guess this is obvious--is if i've agreed to do something that doesn't interest me. for example, a few weeks ago i agreed to go to a going away happy hour for a coworker that i like very much (i almost canceled but decided not to). i don't drink so i felt out of place anyway, and the more tipsy my coworkers got the more left out i felt--i just couldn't relate to the stupid stuff they were talking and laughing about. it was awful and i ended up bailing early. then again, last weekend i went to a bonfire/cookout with my girlfriend's coworkers that was a lot of fun. i was absolutely drained by the time i got home but it was worth going, and it was more my scene than going out to watch other people drink.
i almost didn't go because i was very nervous beforehand--it was a combination of excitement and apprehension--but i calmed down after i arrived and i didn't want to leave midway through or anything. for me, that's a sign of success.
if it's something like a doctor's appointment or dentist appointment i'll often cancel or reschedule. i'll put errands off until the last possible day/hour/minute because i don't like feeling obligated. regarding making future plans: how am i supposed to know if i'll feel like doing whatever it is i agreed to when the time comes? this is the problem with plans that deviate from my normal schedule.
i'm trying to be more self-aware so that i know what my limitations on socializing are (e.g., bar=bad; cookout=not bad) and can respond accordingly at the time i'm invited, instead of agreeing to do something that's not fun for me, and having to cancel at the last minute.