I am trying to find little bits of progress as I try to project so I am wondering if this dream signifies anything at all

I "woke up" in my dream by some music playing and I was annoyed that music was playing at that time of night -Gogol Bordello I think. Anyway it was coming from a radio on my nightstand(not there in reality). i couldn't figure out how to turn it off so I just pulled the power cord. I then noticed that the lights were on low in the room and that it was my indeed my bedroom except there was old lab equipment stacked around .I could sense my wife in the bed. My bedroom opened into a cavernous building that was under construction and i noticed some people I knew but no one noticed me. I am beginning to learn that being in cavernous buildings should be a "I am dreaming" trigger for me.
To make a long story short, I woke up for what I thought was for real in sleep paralysis and what i thought were gremlins slithering down the hall making a a racket. I freaked out and woke myself up for real by shaking my foot until my body woke up.

When in the sleep paralysis it wasn't like I was awake in everyday reality as the lighting was different and just didn't feel right
I'm angry that I didn't try to exit from the paralysis but I also know now that I am nowhere near this state when trying to project( even after an hour or more)
Not sure whether I should be striving for this sleep paralysis state or not before projecting.

I have seen what I think are hypnagogics although not really full scenes. I have also woken up with very faint vibrations and have had very strong heart center activity but no projections.

I do daily meditations and or energy work and qi Gong and have reduced exit tries to 1 or 2 a week and have instead focused on Trance practice.

I guess I am looking for signs of progress.

Thanks for any advice