In the Gemara (Shabbat 21b), there is a debate between Hillel and Shammai as how to light the menorah. Shammai believed that all eight should be lit on the first night, and that a candle should be subtracted on the second night, and so on until the eight night. Hillel believed the exact opposite: you start with one candle the first night, and you reach eight by the eight night. Shammai based his thinking on how offerrings were giving during Sukkot. Hillel based his thinking on Ma'alin Ba'Kodesh ve'ayn Moridin, or the principle that "one increases [not decreases] their matters of holiness." Both have halachic basis, but the Jewish community ended up siding with Hillel's ruling. I don't find this to be a mere "go with the majority" moment. There has to be meaning in accepting Hillel's interpretation.
On the first night, you light just one candle. On the second, two, and so forth until you reach the eighth night where the menorah is fully lit. Why start from the bottom and increase it bit-by-bit? The beauty behind this practice is that it is supposed to be a metaphor for our spiritual lives. Most people are not going to be at such a purified, high level. As a matter of fact, the Talmud (Sanhedrin 97b) says there are only thirty-six tzaddikim (righteous men) who are amongst us at any given time. Thirty-six out of 6+ billion! And to be sure, there are a slightly larger handful who have such righteousness but have to work their toches off to maintain it. Most of us start from a low point and have to spiritually work our way up. In terms of Jewish observance or ethics, some of us are on higher rungs than others, to be sure. But you can't start from a given rung and just miraculously make it to the top. Aesop was the one that came up the saying that said slow and steady wins the race, and he was right. This was a concept I learned very well while taking a course on Tanya with some Chasids. The analogy used to describe our spiritual growth was with the analogy of the rubber band. One end was our actual spiritual level and the other was the level at which we push ourselves. Knowing the nature of rubber bands, if you pull them too far, they will eventually snap and break. The same goes for humans. If you are trying to elevate yourself to too high of a level at this point and hold yourself to those standards, you'll end up losing it, break down, and bring yourself to a new low, and nobody (especially HaShem) wants that. Rather than take on too much at a given moment, do what you can.
This is a particularly important message, considering the real victory of Chanukah was not a military victory, but rather a spiritual victory where the Maccabes resisted assimilation and retained their Jewishness. Considering the amount of Jews I know, who are either irreligious or areligious, this lesson goes out to you. Be like the Maccabees and internalize your Jewishness! Bringing the joy of Judaism in your life is certainly a worthwhile endeavor, but also realize that Rome wasn't built in a day. This is where your personal and spiritual growth has to be like the menorah--one step at a time. Try lighting Shabbat candles for a month or try going to synagogue services once a week for a month. If you don't take off more than you can chew, you will pleasantly find it within your grasp. This was a lesson I learned during my first Chanukah as an observant Jew, and it is one I have internalized since. It certainly takes effort, but at the same time, what worthwhile endeavor doesn't take effort? Rather than rushing and taking on too much at once, you can reflect one facet at a time, grasp its meaning, internalize it, and add it to your repretoire. Before you know it, this mentality will have you shining with your fullest potential. Chag sameach, everyone!
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