Everyday we strive to be a better person. In that pursuit, we try to acquire as much knowledge and skill as we can. Succumbed to a commonly agreed upon measuring scale (wealth) to assess that growth. Hence acquired wealth is expressed with;
1.) Grooming, outfits and gadgets by youngsters
2.) Property, assets and investments by parents
3.) Social-welfare, soul-search and earth-consciousness by the grandparents.

Any parent who is still fond of grooming or gadgets and any youngster who is into soul-search are equally frowned upon by the society. While this child's play go on, irrespective of age and circumstances, here are some essential qualities for self-assessment to measure the real betterment;

யோக்கியம், loosely translates to Righteousness - This has nothing to do with the verbs and nouns set by the society. Categorizing people and acts as good and bad, hence everyone who sticks to good are righteous and not are otherwise is a big fallacy. righteous is an adjective and an adverb that can be used to qualify an attitude or an act.

Feeding the hunger is easy to understand, a righteous act. When a robber pickpockets a wallet, finds $40, takes $20 and puts the wallet back, it is also a righteous act. Now this the society won't accept. When a lion attacks a deer, finds its pregnant, lets the deer go, it is considered a noble act, but its just yet another righteous act as the pickpocket. The point is, there is no rigid way to qualify an act as righteousness. The exhaustive list of each and every act can be righteous, if done right. People who do that are righteous people (யோக்கியர்கள்).

Nature of a person doesn't translate to righteousness. An angry person can be righteous, composed can be vice, which is often the case. Impulsive or systematic doesn't define righteousness either. Unlike acts, its very complicated to define the righteousness in people unless one can sense beyond the superficial symptoms.

"தெய்வம் நீ என்று உணர்.. தெய்வமாய் பிறறை நேசி" திருமூலர்
(When you acknowledge the godliness in you.. you'll be able to recognize the godliness around)

தன்வயத்தம், Self-sustaining - It is just the ability to provide for self and reliant. Often misunderstood as secluding oneself into a remote hermitage. Absolutely not. self-sustaining is a term that can apply to a person, family, team, society, country or even the whole world inclusive. There no need to draw lines of exclusion here. Self-reliance comes from complete acceptance and complacency in life. The blind pursuit of wealth to attain self-reliance often ends in the exact opposite.

If one is repressing a desire to prove self-reliant, it will not end well either. When one inquires that desire, removing all the possible external influences and find that it hails from inside, the right thing is to pursue it. This kind of self-inquiry is not easy for a layman, but a second nature for an enlightened and those in pursuit of it. When one can live without comparing self to others, they are on the path of practicing self-reliance already.

A sheriff, who can maintain law and order in his town in all circumstances is a self-reliant cop. A group of people sharing the skills and produce, be content for the most part is a self sustaining society. A family grows the produce, cook their own food, take care of their shelter and recreation is a self-sustaining family. A monk in seclusion in harmony with existence is also self-reliant, it is nothing special or nobler than other exmples of self-reliance stated above.

"Things you own.. end up owning you" - Tyler Durden (Fight Club)

ஈகை, Generosity - A righteous and self-reliant person often has lesser needs and hence excess to share. When righteously earned wealth, skill or knowledge is shared with a deserving being, with absolute gratitude for the opportunity, it is a generous act. If any one of these three attribute is missing, the act isn't a generous one. Gratuity to a waiter, donating to save the face and giving in to the social customary and yearly charity seeking tax cuts does not fall under generosity.

"ஈதல் அறம்.. தீவினைவிட்டு ஈட்டல் பொருள்" - ஔவையார்
(sharing is an ethic.. and only morally pursuing the needs and wants is the meaning of life)

Generosity can neither be taught nor be practiced. Call it karmic records or genetics, one is either born with it or not. There is no point in pretending. If the compassion or empathy doesn't rise naturally, forcing it or pretending it causes more damage to the self.

"சித்திரமும் கைப்பழக்கம் செந்தமிழும் நாப்பழக்கம்..
நட்பும் தயையும் கொடையும் பிறவிக் குணம்" - ஔவையார் 
(friendship, compassion, generosity is innate by birth)

When you find these qualities in people around you, acknowledge, appreciate and be glad to have known them. DO NOT make the common mistake of impersonating them. If it is destined upon you, it'll manifest naturally, if not, go through the enriching experiences life throws at you undeterred.  It is essential for the right evolution. 

Being true to self is far more important than exhibiting any noble characteristic to the world.