Machshava:

Chanukah,  Derech Hashem,  Simcha/Happiness 

Personalities:

Rebbe Nosson 

Description

When we see the distance between where we find ourselves and where we ultimately want to be, it can make one feel low and depressed. However, Reb Nosson as he always does flips this on its side and explains as follows: When we are lighting the menorah, or learning torah, or doing a mitzvah, and we see ourselves as far we still are doing the mitzvah, and we have the ability to learn torah and light the menorah. That itself can make us happy. Because Hashem has such compassion that he still lets us do mitzvos and learn torah that we are far from. [From Reb Nosson's Likkutei Halachos Shiluach HaKein Halacha 4]