Monday, July 13, 2026

The Power Within Is No Yolk!

Where inner strength meets support

By Quentin Steen, Representative

There’s a Buddhist quote I came across some time ago—though I can’t remember where I first read it—that has stayed with me: “If an egg is broken by outside force, life ends. If broken by inside force, life begins.” It offers a powerful image of transformation, though real life is rarely that simple.

Inner strength matters. Growth often begins with self-reflection, honesty, and the courage to change. Like a chick pushing against its shell, meaningful transformation can be uncomfortable. It asks something of us. It requires effort, trust, and the willingness to move beyond familiar limits.

But not everyone can access that inner force all the time. Trauma, grief, exhaustion, isolation, poverty, and mental health struggles can make it difficult just to get through the day, let alone begin again. In those moments, the message cannot simply be “find the strength within.” Sometimes, that strength feels far away.

That is why external forces are not always the enemy. While harmful pressure can break us, support from outside ourselves can also help us heal. A trusted friend, counsellor, elder, faith community, family member, or support group can offer the safety, care, and encouragement that make growth possible. If you are supporting someone else, help may look less like fixing them and more like listening without judgment, checking in consistently, helping with a practical task, or encouraging professional support.

Perhaps the deeper lesson is this: real transformation often happens when inner courage and outer support meet. We need self-awareness, yes, but we also need compassion, connection, and conditions that allow healing to take root.

So, what does this look like in practice? If you are struggling, start small and be specific: name one pressure you are carrying, tell one trusted person the truth about where you are, and take one manageable step in the next 24 hours. That step might be booking an appointment, writing in a journal for 10 minutes, going for a short walk, asking for help, or sending a simple message: I’m struggling and could use some support.

If you are walking alongside someone else, do one concrete thing today, Send a check-in message, offer a ride, drop off a meal, or help make an appointment.

Change is not always dramatic. Often, it begins quietly—with one honest action, one caring response, and one small crack in the shell.

The power within you is real. But you were never meant to rely on it alone. Sometimes, life begins not only through the strength we find inside ourselves, but also through the support that helps us keep going.

Disclaimer: This reflection is based on personal perspective and is intended for general informational purposes only.

Quentin Steen is a certified Mental Health First Aid instructor for the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

The Power Within Is No Yolk!

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