The scholars said in the name of R. Johanan: The injunctions of the Scribes are more beloved (chaviv) than those of the Torah, as it says, For Your friendship is better than wine. If a man says: There is no command to put on phylacteries, thus transgressing a precept of the Torah, he is subject to no penalty. But if he says there are five compartments [in the phylacteries], thus transgressing the injunction of the Scribes, he is subject to a penalty. (Midrash Rabbah - Song of Songs I:18)

The Mitzvah of Chanukah lighting is an extremly beloved mitvah (chaviv od meod) and one should be meticulous about it. (Rambam The Laws of Chanukah 4:13)

Sichos Rav Pinkas explains that the Rambam did not say that Chanucha is an extremly big mitvah but rather an extremely beloved mitvah. Since Chanukah is from the Rabbis and not from the Torah it is a time when we can express and renew our special love and endearment to the service of G-d by going beyond the letter of the Torah law. When a person fufills the mitvoth according to the regular order of the year they may come to do the mitvoth out of habit and Hashem will then relate to them in a normal manner. But when someone breaks the normal cycle of the Torah by performing a mitvah from the Rabbis with a special desire and love, then Hashem will relate to them in a unique and beloved way and preform miracles for them. Chanukah is a time for us to rebuild our excitement for the mitvoth and our special love for our Creator.

Application:
Give 10 quick answers to the following sentence stems:
If I was to do the mitvoth with more excitement I would...
Serving Hashem even during my "off hours" would...