It seems to me that the lever works as a flick-switch both ways. I prefer to push it away from me to switch between dipped and high beam and back. I make sure to put my hand on the part of the stalk between the switches for the different lighting modes and the steering wheel column, as I have accidentally switched my lights off entirely when I hit the wrong part a few times. I've got into the habit of simply doing that when I don't like what the auto high beam has done, which is most of the time, and after a short while auto realises where it's not wanted and goes away.
I think it works just the same way if you pull the stalk towards you. Might be better if it gives less chance of switching the lights off entirely, but due to the size of my hands it's a bit of a stretch to have to keep reaching for the stalk and pulling it.