How do I prepare emotionally before marrying?

Emotional preparation means being able to manage feelings, communicate and compromise — because marriage unites two different people.
Practical steps: identify your anger triggers and how you react; resolve old wounds (for example family trauma) with a counsellor's help if needed; learn to listen without judging; be ready not to win every time; and realise that love changes form into mawaddah (affection) and rahmah (mercy) (ar-Rum 30:21). Islam commands living together in kindness and patience with what one dislikes in a spouse (an-Nisa' 4:19). Pre-marriage courses and pre-nikah counselling sessions help a great deal.