Many discussion bits meandering around here ... let reflect on the original crucial point - lack of confidence.
If lack of confidence is not overcome, why?
This was never an issue for me, because when I was doing PPL, I got to know quite a few pilots as friends. They took me to place, I would never be gone to without a small plane. I still remember great trips, where one of them called me Saturday morning after weather for the weekend was there and we would fly to a place I had not thought of. It is amazing in Europe which locations are nearby by means of a light aircraft, where you would never drive by car! Yes, you have times where you almost piss your pants, but in the right crowd it does not matter.
Always keep in mind (although nowadays in rotten Europe this wisdom seem to be politically and ideologically forced driven to the back of the mind): The greatest personal achievement is behind the biggest fear and concern.