carrying pole
朸 centers on a wooden pole used for carrying loads across the shoulder: a carrying pole or yoke.
朸 combines 木 (tree, wood) with 力 (strength), suggesting a wooden tool that requires strength to use, consistent with a carrying pole.
A wooden (木) pole that takes strength (力) to carry: that's a carrying pole.
For リョク, imagine a strong person carrying a heavy load on a pole and saying 'ryoku' (like 'rye-oak') as they lift: ryoku -> リョク.