I am the type who bottles things up and is rarely direct. How do I change before marrying?

Being quiet or keeping things in is not a flaw, but you need to find a comfortable way to tell your spouse what you feel. Many couples misunderstand each other because silence is read as anger, sulking or not caring. Practise naming your feelings in short words, for example, ‘I am tired today, not angry.’ If speaking feels hard, write it first in a note or message, then talk about it. Tell your future spouse about this trait before marriage, and agree on a signal for when you need time to think. Start practising with people you trust, such as your siblings. Marriage does not require you to become chatty, only honest and easy to understand. See communication & emotions.