Whenever aversion arises against anything, the fist thing to do is to note the aversion, noting "aversion, aversion." Then we try to examine aversion within ourselves, try to see how it affects the body and the mind. So we can bring some Compassion for ourselves, because at that particular moment you are having a problem with this particular hindrance.
The next thing you can try to do is to actually see whether you are doing Compassion and Lovingkindness meditation, or whether you are doing desire meditation. Sometimes we think we are doing Compassion and Lovingkindness meditation, but it is going a bit like this, "May they be free from suffering - I want a feeling - may they be free from physical Dukkha - I want a feeling, this meditation isn't working, yeah, they have that suffering but I'm suffering because I'm not getting a feeling! What's their problem anyway, I'm sitting here for hours and hours and I'm not getting any feeling."
So check to see whether you are actually doing Compassion and Lovingkindness meditation. Because if you are doing desire meditation, of course you will have aversion! Remember the Four Noble Truths, desire brings suffering. So if you actually want to get the benefits of Compassion and Lovingkindness meditation, and let go of the aversion towards it, we actually have to check to see in the mind whether we are wanting something in this meditation.
An analogy we like to give to these people, because it is a very common thing - we even had to do a newsletter concerned with it, is to imagine you are coming in to an interview with us, and you find out it's our birthday. Would you be able to just say, "Happy Birthday" to us, and would you expect anything in return for that wish? Most people, most of our students anyway, may not want anything in return for that wish. So check to see whether you are doing the meditation to get something, rather to give something. As we have a more unconditional Lovingkind wish, the fruits arise by themselves, and we have more of an understanding of this meditation.
Another thing to check to see is whether there is a certain amount of conceit arising in the mind. "I have enough compassion, compassion arises for me in my everyday life, what do I need to reflect about all these people for, I'm naturally compassionate." It's helpful at these times to remember the Buddha and realize that the human mind is capable of expanding our capacity and range of compassion, that we don't get content with a certain level.
These are some of the main things to look for when we are doing Compassion and Lovingkindness meditation. We just try to do the method, without wanting anything in return. And if you have had a particular experience in Compassion and Lovingkindness of the heart opening in some way, and feeling that relief that arises at that time, it is quite common for the mind to want that in every particular sitting that we do Compassion and Lovingkindness. Not realizing that that was a fruit at that particular time. But the feeling is not what we're after. We're looking for the increasing ability in our life to have Compassion and Lovingkindness in all situations, not just when we're feeling it deeply.